Sam Morsy's emotional and honest message to Wigan Athletic fans after Middlesbrough transfer

The 29-year-old completed his move to the Riverside on Friday, signing a three-year contract with the Teessiders for an undisclosed fee.

After joining Wigan in 2016, Morsy was made captain at the DW Stadium for the 2017/18 season and led the Latics to promotion from League One.

The Egyptian international has since made 83 second-tier appearances for Wigan over the last two seasons, making him a popular figure among supporters.

Yet last season’s relegation, courtesy of a 12-point deduction for going into administration, has been a bitter pill to swallow for everyone connected with Wigan.

The Latics have been forced to sell the majority of their first-team, and Morsy says it will be tough to move on.

After his transfer to Boro was completed, the midfielder took to Twitter to post a classy and heartfelt letter to Wigan fans, explaining his decision to leave the club.

"I wanted to take this opportunity to write to you to explain my decision to leave the club after five seasons at the DW Stadium,” the letter read.

"Many of those years have been as your captain – something I regard as one of the proudest achievements of my career – so I believe I owe you this explanation, especially given how you have always supported me and made me feel like a massive part of this family.

"I know how tough it’s been for you watching the manager and so many players leave the club in the last few weeks because I have felt exactly the same.

"All of the players who have left and many of the players that are still with the club deserve to be playing in the Championship or Premier League and that’s something we’ve all had to respect as we’ve seen it unfold.

"On a personal note, I have naturally had to consider my future. For my family, for my international career and for my own personal desire and ambition to play at the highest level.

"I have been in regular dialogue with Leam Richardson and the administrators and informed them of my wish to fulfil my ambitions at the highest possible level, should suitable interest arrive.

"The administrators asked me to stay and turned down two bids for me in recent weeks but I am thankful they have now allowed me to fulfil my ambitions."

Morsy, who has been capped seven times by Egypt, will now look ahead to a fresh challenge at Boro and could make his debut for the Teessiders against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (6pm kick-off).

Boro boss Neil Warnock has repeatedly said he wants to strengthen the spine of his team for the 2020/21 season, as well as adding more leaders to the group.

Morsy appears to fit that criteria and should add more bite and solidity in the heart of Boro’s midfield.

“It was nice to get Sam in, he’s a good lad,” said Warnock following Friday’s season opener against Watford, while admitting he’s still hopeful Boro can make ‘one or two’ more signings before the end of the window.

Following the announcement that he’d joined Boro, Morsy tweeted: “Delighted to have signed for @Boro hope it can be a big season for us. Let’s go.”

Yet the 29-year-old, who won Wigan’s Player of the Year award last season, says he won’t forget his time with the Latics and will always be thankful for the opportunity.

"It is with a heavy heart I will be leaving a place that has given me and my family so many special moments,” Morsy’s letter added.

"I will always be thankful for that. You all send me messages of goodwill through the highs and the lows and I want you to know that your support has meant the absolute world to me.

"I feel like part of this family and leaving it hurts so much, although I know the reasons for my departure are the right ones.

"I would like to thank Dave Whelan and David Sharpe for bringing me to the club back in January 2016 and also Paul Cook for appointing me as Wigan Athletic captain when he became manager in 2017.

"It’s been an honour and I have been so proud to play over 150 matches for this club, leading the club out and wearing the armband for the majority of those games.

"To the staff behind the scenes – many of whom I now regard as friends – thank you for all of your help and support since day one.

"There are so many good people doing everything they can for the future of Wigan Athletic. The players receive lots of the praise when the team does well but there is such a massive effort from everyone involved with the club to bring success.

"These are challenging times and although it has been a long time since the team and supporters have been at the stadium together, I have felt and seen your hurt through social media and the messages I have received. It hurts me that this news will provide more sadness to many of you in this difficult period, though I hope you can understand my reasons.

"You are the club’s biggest strength and I know you will keep fighting to ensure your club enjoys better times soon.

"Thank you for everything, Sam.”

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Hartlepool Mail website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.