New Derby County signing Hossam Ghaly insists he didn't set out to offend anyone at former club Tottenham.
Ghaly, who revealed he has never spoken to Spurs boss Juande Ramos, has been in exile in Egypt since a summer transfer to Birmingham fell through in controversial circumstances, after then-Blues manager Steve Bruce criticised his attitude.
The midfielder still has two and a half years remaining on his contract at White Hart Lane but revealed he has already been told he has no future in north London.
Therefore, the chance to make a fresh start and gain regular first-team football was simply too good an opportunity to turn down despite Derby's perilous position at the foot of the table.
"You don't look at the position of the team, you just focus on doing well, to help the team. It is a relief to be playing first-team football again."
Ghaly has not featured for Spurs since the game with Blackburn on May 10, when he threw his shirt to the ground in disgust at being replaced having earlier come on as a substitute.
"I was told the problem I made at Tottenham was to throw the shirt down. I've been told my future at Tottenham is over now. I went back to Cairo to play games for the national team and to keep fit.
"I didn't mean to insult someone, the fans or anybody, I was only angry with my own performance. I wanted to make it better.
"Everybody can make mistakes - and learn from them. The punishment from Tottenham was very harsh."
Such events have led to Ghaly earning a bad boy reputation but he claims nothing could be further from the truth.
"I'm a quiet person, he added. "It's not my character to be aggressive or difficult. I hope on the field I can be aggressive and work hard and make the manager satisfied he has made a good decision."
