Began, you said, right in the middle (7)
I believe the answer is:
started
'began you' is the definition.
'started' can be an answer for 'began' ('start' can be a synonym of 'begin'). I'm not certain of the 'you' bit.
'said right in the middle' is the wordplay.
'said' becomes 'stated' ('state' can be a synonym of 'say').
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'in the middle' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'stated' placed around 'r' is 'STARTED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for started that I've seen before include "showed surprise" , "Began; flinched" , "Originated" , "Began, jumped" , "Made sudden movement from pain or surprise" .)