England star Ivan Toney hits back at Bruno Fernandes with blunt reply after Man Utd star's Saudi transfer snub
IVAN TONEY has told Bruno Fernandes: You're wrong about the Saudi Pro League.
2
England star Ivan Toney disagrees with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes' statement about Saudi Arabia
2
Fernandes turned down a bid by Al-Hilal claiming he wanted to carry on playing at the highest level
But former
'He obviously hasn't seen the league. The standard is high. I always say this, people always judge it on not seeing it, you know?
'And you have to see it first hand to have your own opinion.
'If people went there and went to some games, they'd soon realise.
Read More on Man Utd
'I know it's a good standard. You would never knock it once you've been there. It is tough.'
But
Toney told talkSPORT: 'He scores goals, he knows where to put the ball for other players, he's got a similar penalty technique.
'He is a top top player, and he deserves to play for top top clubs.'
Most read in Football
Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday
plus
in-depth coverage and exclusives
from Old Trafford
England boss Thomas Tuchel decided Toney's first season in Saudi Arabia was
The former Bees star scored 23 league goals for Al-Ahli, two behind the SPL's leading marksman,
England boss Thomas Tuchel explains Ivan Toney recall
Toney is confident that if he keeps producing the goods, he can book himself a place on the plane to next summer's World Cup.
Toney, 29, said: 'it's disappointing not to beat Ronaldo, but hopefully next season.
I always think positive. Because if you think negative, then the negative things are going to happen.
'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.
'I'm a player that plays in
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
34 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Republic of Ireland vs Senegal predictions, odds and betting tips
THE REPUBLIC of Ireland will welcome Senegal to the Aviva Stadium on Friday night for the first of two friendlies ahead of this year's World Cup qualifiers. Buoyed by back-to-back wins, the Boys in Green will be given a stern test by the in-form African giants, who haven't lost for well over a year. Ireland vs Senegal tips Senegal to win or draw and BTTS - Ismaila Sarr to score anytime - Troy Parrott to score anytime - Ireland vs Senegal odds Find the latest football betting odds for Ireland vs Senegal. Our odds are provided by the Ireland vs Senegal predictions The Republic of Ireland return to action on Friday night against an in-form Senegal side, as Heimir Hallgrimsson's men continue preparations for their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Ireland will be buoyed by back-to-back 2-1 wins over Bulgaria in their two most recent outings. The 4-2 aggregate win sealed their Nations League B survival and provided some much-needed momentum after a difficult few years. Having failed to qualify for the last four major tournaments, Hallgrimsson will be under pressure to lead Ireland to the 2026 World Cup. He will have his work cut out, with the Boys in Green drawn in a tricky UEFA Group F alongside Portugal, Hungary and Armenia. Since taking over in July 2024, the Icelandic coach has overseen a steady improvement, guiding Ireland to four wins in six since a shaky start. Now, he'll be hoping to extend that run of improved form with positive performances against Senegal and Luxembourg during this international window. Hallgrimsson is likely to be without Seamus Coleman for the match - the skipper is still recovering from injury and is unlikely to be risked. The Irish head coach is also likely to experiment at some point with the uncapped John Joe Patrick Finn, Josh Keeley, Killian Phillips and Josh Honohan all included in the squad. Senegal poses a significant threat. The Lions of Teranga are unbeaten in their last 14 matches. The run includes 10 wins and four draws and sees them firmly in the mix to qualify for the 2026 World Cup from CAF Group B, where they sit second in the table with 12 points from six matches. Pape Thiaw's side don't have the services of Sadio Mane to call upon this Friday. But many Premier League fans will recognise Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, who are likely to be a part of Senegal's front three. READ MORE SUN STORIES Ireland vs Senegal betting tips Despite having the home comforts of the Aviva Stadium in their favour, Heimir Hallgrimsson's Ireland team are the underdogs. Find out if they can prove the bookies wrong in our Republic of Ireland vs Senegal match betting tips below: Senegal to win or draw and BTTS Unfortunately for Republic of Ireland fans, Senegal boast a strong squad with several members regularly playing at the highest level of European football, including the Premier League. As a result, we don't see the visitors losing. But, not all hope is lost. Given Ireland's improvement under Hallgrimsson, we can see at least a goal for the Boys in Green, and maybe even a draw. ➡️ Ismaila Sarr to score anytime Ismaila Sarr finished his club season on a massive high with Crystal Palace. As well as lifting the FA Cup at Wembley, Sarr also scored twice in Palace's 3-0 semi-final win over Aston Villa. In the Premier League, Sarr was just as impressive. He contributed two assists and a final-day goal against Liverpool in his last three league appearances for the Eagles. There are options in this market for Senegal. Sarr's Premier League counterpart, Nicolas Jackson also finished the season well with Chelsea, scoring in his team's 4-1 win over Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final. Jackson is 27/10 to score anytime. We are sticking with Sarr, though, as we believe he is the player in better form and more likely to replicate it on the international stage. ➡️ Troy Parrott to score anytime Troy Parrott has enjoyed an excellent season with AZ Alkmaar, scoring an impressive 20 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions for the Dutch side. While the former Spurs striker has yet to replicate that form on the international stage, this could be the perfect moment for Parrott to make his mark in a green shirt. Heimir Hallgrimsson will be well aware that goals from Parrott could prove crucial in Ireland's push for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. So expect the manager to play to his striker's strengths in a bid to unlock his full potential at international level. ➡️ 📺 How to watch Republic of Ireland vs Senegal Location : Aviva Stadium, Dublin Ireland. Date and time : Friday 6th June, 7.45pm. How to watch : RTE2, RTE Player and Amazon Prime Video. About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland. Most read in Betting
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Senegal a novel but tough test for Ireland as long road to World Cup qualifiers finally comes to end
THE FAI'S SOCIAL channels reheated a favoured dish yesterday, posting the clip of Robbie Keane's 'bail that out u fuckers' equaliser against Germany at the 2002 World Cup, on what was its 23rd (!) anniversary. For those of us too young to remember The Charlton Years, this remains our Peak Irish sporting moment, at a time the generation older than us reckoned we had finally cracked the whole qualifying lark. Alas, Ireland at the Fifa World Cup became another empty Celtic Tiger promise. Almost a quarter-century on, we remain languishing on football's ghost estates, as most of the rest of their world got to live the high life. Heimir Hallgrimsson has been brought in to give us some upward mobility, and these next few days mark the end of his speculating. It's almost time to discover his yield. After tonight's clash with Senegal and Tuesday's friendly against our Old Pals Luxembourg, Ireland will finally begin World Cup qualifying, and the defining three months of Hallgrimsson's tenure. Hallgrimsson's focus remains utterly on the prize. 'I wouldn't mind losing both these games if we won both games in September if you are thinking about it that way', he said at his pre-match press conference. Tonight's opponents made their name at that same World Cup in 2002, beating holders France on the opening day and going all the way to the quarter-finals. Unlike Ireland, though, Senegal have actually gone on to do something since. Then-captain, Aliou Cissé, took over as manager in 2015 and gloriously led them to their first Afcon title along with the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were ruined by bad luck. First they became the first side ever eliminated from the groups on the last-resort, fair play tiebreaker, and four years later they got through the group only to run into England while depleted of Sadio Mane and Idrissa Gueye. But they have also had a penchant for off-field turbulence. Despite the fact the Senegal federation offered Cissé a new contract to take him through to the 2026 World Cup, the government – who actually pay Cissé's wages – decided he was no longer up to scratch, and told him they wouldn't be paying for that salary extension, given he had failed to make the World Cup quarter-finals nor win a second-straight Afcon title. And so against the wishes of both Cissé and the federation, he stepped aside and has been replaced by a former assistant and another alumnus of the '02 World Cup, Pape Thiaw. Senegal are in Dublin tonight partly because they were due to be close by, as they play England in a friendly in Nottingham next Tuesday. They are here without Sadio Mane, who has asked to be excused, but are otherwise at full strength. Advertisement Their squad is a blend of recognisable veterans – Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye – along with more youthful talent, including Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, Tottenham's Pape Sarr, and Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara. Crystal Palace winger Ismalia Sarr is among too few talents at their peak and bridging both generations. If you exclude a penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast at the most recent Afcon, Senegal are unbeaten in 20 games and have lost just once since that England defeat in Qatar. Ranked second in Africa and 19th in the world, they are a daunting opponent for Ireland. 'To go 20 games unbeaten is amazing', enthused Hallgrimsson at his pre-game media duties, explaining how direct Senegal are in seeking runners in behind and picking out third-man runs from deep, which offers a different test from the more patient heavyweights of European football. Thus if Senegal are not going to give Ireland a rehearsal for the Portugal and Hungary tests in terms of style, they will at least force Ireland to be attuned to those sides' tempo. 'Everything happens a little bit quicker, when we need to defend and that's a good step, if we are ready for that it's a good preparation for Hungary and Portugal', says Hallgrimsson. His message in training this week has been to preach the importance of remaining compact in the face of Senegal's threat. Compact neatly describes how Ireland played during the first half of their tie away to England last November – they got to the break at 0-0 before everything fell apart – though a reprise of playing Nathan Collins in midfield seems unlikely tonight, if only for the fact it's a home game against a standard of opponent against whom Ireland must score come the qualifiers. Hallgrimsson has left most of his Championship players on the beach for this window, though Bristol City duo Jason Knight and Max O'Leary have been included, along with Robbie Brady. That Brady is here emphasises how important he has become to Hallgrimsson, with depth at left-back at a minimum. The Irish manager is concerned about the lack of options in that position, as Callum O'Dowda is injury-prone and now a League One player, while he sees Ryan Manning as an attacking player. Hence why Hallgrimsson has spoken about the possibility of another return for James McClean to the fold, with McClean certainly open to another act with Ireland. McClean isn't here this week, however, and so this is a big opportunity for Josh Honohan to show his capabilities. Of the four new call-ups, Honohan has the least competition for a place in the team, though Hallgrimsson was coy on whether any of the quartet would be involved. 'The purpose of having a look at them is to see if they are ready to play. Whether it will be tomorrow or against Luxembourg or not at all, we will wait and see.' Hallgrimsson was cool on the prospect of midfielder John Patrick Finn making a senior debut this week, responding to a follow-up question by saying he 'has to grow a little bit more as a player to be starting for Ireland.' John Patrick Finn. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Next Tuesday's game against Luxembourg is the likelier game for debuts and experimentation. Caoimhín Kelleher has established himself as Ireland's number one and regular football with his new club Brentford means he intends to hold onto that status. Matt Doherty is the only specialist right-back in the squad, but all of Jake O'Brien, Dara O'Shea, and Andrew Omobamidele have shown themselves comfortable at shuffling across to fill the role. Liam Scales will provide further competition for the right to play alongside Nathan Collins. Given Brady and Knight have been selected, meanwhile, they will surely start. Ahead of Finn and fellow freshman Killian Phillips in the midfield pecking order are Will Smallbone and Jack Taylor. Smallbone hasn't played for Ireland since last September owing to a rotten run with injury, while Taylor hasn't been afforded many opportunities to build off his impressive cameo away to Greece last October. Both could start if Hallgrimsson opts to play a single striker, with Taylor deep alongside Knight and Smallbone playing higher in a position similar to that in which Finn Azaz excelled in March. Festy Ebosele has returned from injury and can punch through any defence with his pace down the right flank, while Manning may play again off the left having put in his best performance for Ireland away to Bulgaria in March. Troy Parrott missed Wednesday's session through illness but trained yesterday, doing media consumers across the country a favour in not having to read too many Sick as a Parrott headlines today. He is definitely ahead of Adam Idah in the pecking order: the question is whether Hallgrimsson chooses to pick Evan Ferguson alongside Parrott, and at the expense of an attacking midfield player. In the home leg against Bulgaria in March, Parrott led the line with Ferguson tucked in behind. There are more than 36,000 tickets sold for tonight's game, an admirable number for a summer friendly against a side with whom we don't exactly have a keen rivalry. It's proof once again hat the country is desperate to be carried away by its football team. Tonight, finally, is the end of Hallgrimsson's long beginning. Success will be if the end does not rush up to meet us too quickly. Ireland (Possible XI): Kelleher; Doherty; Collins, O'Shea, Brady; Ebosele, Taylor, Knight, Manning; Smallbone, Parrott On TV: RTE Two; KO: 7.45pm
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Carlo Ancelotti says first Brazil match was ‘special' despite goalless draw
Brazil were held to a goalless draw away to Ecuador in Carlo Ancelotti's first match in charge but the Italian still described his international debut as a manager as a 'special' gift. Clear-cut chances were limited during a lacklustre 90 minutes at Estadio Monumental with Brazil only able to manage two shots on target. Ancelotti included a number of Premier League players in his first line-up with Alisson Becker, Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro and Richarlison handed starts, but the 0-0 draw keeps Brazil in fourth spot in the South America World Cup qualification standings. My first match in charge of a national team, my heart felt something special The veteran coach, who started his managerial career in 1995, told 'My first match in charge of a national team, my heart felt something special. 'I was on the bench for more than 1,800 matches and this one was special. I think I can make an assessment of this first period; I was happy with the reception. I feel delighted to work with the CBF and, for me, it is a gift to be here.' The former Real Madrid boss, who has won five Champions League titles, acknowledged Brazil could improve with the ball ahead of his home debut with Paraguay in Sao Paulo on Tuesday, with Barcelona attacker Raphinha set to return after suspension. 'It was a very good match defensively,' Ancelotti reflected. 'I saw the team playing better with the ball, with a slightly more fluid game. It was a good draw and we left satisfied, with confidence for the next game. 'We have very good quality players. There is not much time to work, but there is the possibility of improvement because we have quality. 'I am sure that we will improve in attack. Today we were missing an important player (in) Raphinha. 'We have to play a game with more rhythm, mobility and intensity. I believe we will do that at our home ground.'
