Ivan Toney on scoring more than Ronaldo, the truth about Saudi & England dream

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Ivan Toney is outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League and having already fired Al-Ahli to the Asian Champions League, the ex-Brentford hitman is targeting England’s World Cup squad

Red-hot Ivan Toney is intent on keeping his name in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup notebook.

Such is the England striker’s desire to make it this summer, he blasted a stunning hat-trick for Al-Ahli last Thursday to reach the top of the Saudi Pro League scoring charts with 18 goals – two ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. Last year, 29-year-old Toney lifted the Asian Champions League title and ­finished his debut season with 30 goals.

This year he wants to win the title – and to make the most of Tuchel’s unwillingness to be swayed by ­negative perceptions of the Saudi Pro League. Toney admitted: “I didn’t know too much about the Pro League, but then Ronaldo moved here in 2023 and a few others followed. When the option came around for me to move, I dived deeper into it to see what it was about. And, by that point, it was looking good.

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“Then when I arrived here and had my first session with the team – even though they are not all ­players that are well known, they can all play football. Obviously, everybody’s going to have opinions on the standard, but I feel they shouldn’t form an opinion without knowing what it’s actually like.

“Once I’d arrived here, I knew it was going to be tough, and that I just had to get my head down and work hard, as I ­always have done. Thankfully, that’s paying off.

“I believe in myself, and what I can bring to any team. There are good players here, and a good bunch as well. I’ve always believed in my qualities and my ability to score goals, especially with good players around me to help and assist me.”

Last June, many speculated that Toney must have been left fuming by Tuchel’s decision to use him for just five minutes at the very end of ­England’s 3-1 defeat by Senegal. But the Al-Ahli striker takes a different view.

Toney said: “It is ­always an honour being called up. Even being around the England set-up. You have to respect the ­players that are playing in front of you, they are top footballers.

“You also have to respect the manager’s decision – it’s what’s best for the team and the country. So whether I get two minutes or not, you have to be ready when you’re called upon.”

Priced out of a top Premier League switch by his former club Brentford in 2024, Toney was ­accused of taking the easy option by ­accepting a move to the country set to host the 2034 World Cup. But the marksman – described as “the best penalty taker in the world ” by his ex-Brentford boss Thomas Frank – is on an eight-game scoring streak and believes his instincts are sharper than ever.

He said: “In the past year I’ve felt a real sense of ­anticipating where the ball could drop. People who don’t really know football would say that it’s luck.

“Even when you see Erling ­Haaland and Harry Kane scoring all their goals, people will still say the same thing. But it’s not luck. Strikers have the ­hardest job in football because when a team doesn’t win, strikers are the ones automatically looked at.”

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Toney’s Al-Ahli scoring form has come playing alongside the likes of ­former Liverpool ace Roberto ­Firmino (now with Qatar ’s Al-Sadd), ex-Manchester City title winner Riyad Mahrez and ­keeper Edouard Mendy, who lifted the Champions League with Chelsea and has just clinched AFCON glory with Senegal.

Toney went on: “I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, there are players in this league that could still play in the Premier League. The standard is high. I’ve played in the Premier League. I should know.

“If Al-Ahli were in the Premier League, we’d finish quite high. That’s my personal opinion. People might kill it, no problem. But I know my ­teammates, and I know their ­qualities. You have to be on it every week, because if you’re not, you get pushed over. You have to be in the right mindset.”

That mindset includes a total focus, despite missing his loved ones back in England.

Toney said: “Obviously, you don’t get to see family as much, but we always call and text. It’s nicer to see them in person, but work is work – and if you’re going to be away from family, it makes it even more special when you do see them.”

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