England international Ivan Toney has directly addressed Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, suggesting he is mistaken in his assessment of the Saudi Pro League.
Fernandes reportedly declined a lucrative transfer opportunity to Al-Hilal, explaining his decision by stating his desire to continue playing at the pinnacle of club football.
However, Toney, who recently made the move to Saudi side Al-Ahli from Brentford and had a productive first season [referring to his goal tally and England recall], offered a different perspective. He commented on Fernandes`s decision, saying, “That’s his choice. He might see things differently than I do.”
Toney further suggested Fernandes`s view might stem from a lack of direct experience with the league. “He obviously hasn`t seen the league. The standard is high. I always say this, people always judge it without seeing it, you know?”
He stressed the importance of experiencing the league firsthand to form an accurate opinion. “And you have to see it first hand to have your own opinion.”
Toney believes that anyone attending matches in Saudi Arabia would quickly come to a different conclusion. “If people went there and went to some games, they`d soon realise.”
He firmly stands by the league`s quality, asserting, “I know it`s a good standard. You would never knock it once you`ve been there. It is tough.”
Beyond the discussion on the Saudi league, Toney also voiced his confidence in former Brentford teammate Bryan Mbeumo, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United. Toney believes Mbeumo has the quality to succeed at Old Trafford or any other major club interested in him this summer.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Toney praised Mbeumo, saying, “He scores goals, he knows where to put the ball for other players, he’s got a similar penalty technique.”
He concluded his remarks on Mbeumo by stating, “He is a top top player, and he deserves to play for top top clubs.”
Toney’s performance during his first season in Saudi Arabia was significant enough for the England national team manager to recall him to the squad.
The former Brentford star finished the Saudi Pro League season for Al-Ahli having scored 23 goals, placing him just two goals behind the league`s leading scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr.
Looking ahead, Toney is optimistic that maintaining his form and scoring record will secure him a spot in the England squad for the next World Cup.
The 29-year-old striker commented on his goal tally compared to Ronaldo, saying, “it`s disappointing not to beat Ronaldo, but hopefully next season.”
He emphasized his commitment to a positive mindset, stating, “I always think positive. Because if you think negative, then the negative things are going to happen.”
Toney believes that consistent performance is the key to national team selection. “if you`re playing well, if you’re scoring, there’s only one decision. The manager`s seen that hence why he`s brought me back.”
Finally, Toney addressed any potential criticism regarding his decision to play in Saudi Arabia. “I’m a player that plays in Saudi. If that`s a problem to people, then so be it, but I`m a Saudi player now and I just have to focus on playing football.”
Marcus Bellamy