Ivan Toney is only thinking about goals this season.
The striker swapped the Premier League for the Saudi Pro League in the summer, leaving Brentford for Al Ahli in a £40million transfer.
Toney has been quick to make an impact at Al Ahli and wants to top score for his sideGetty
But competition for goals is still just as fierce. Instead of Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah, there is Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema standing in his way for a golden boot.
But he’s not bothered by big reputations and, after such success in front of goal for Brentford where he netted 72 in 141 appearances, he’s keen on topping the charts at his new club.
“I always set targets for myself and hopefully I can hit them,” he said in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT ahead of Al Ahli’s Jeddah derby clash against Al Ittihad on Thursday.
“I know you’re probably going to ask me what my target is but it doesn’t come out. It only comes out when I hit it come the end of the season.
“So, hopefully I can keep playing well and score goals to help the team and help to win the games.”
When asked whether or not he will score more goals than Al Nassr’s Ronaldo, he replied: “Hopefully more. Hopefully more but to be fair, I’m competing with myself basically, really.
“I don’t watch what other people are doing. Obviously we know Ronaldo is a top player but I’ll concentrate on myself and do what I can do best.”
And given he has shared pitches with some of the best players, he is not one to be overawed by the prospect of Benzema.
“It’s all good coming up against these players, but we’re not here to idolise them, we’re here to beat them.”
At international level, Toney has six England caps and was named in their Euro 2024 squad after missing out on the 2022 World Cup.
Benzema is leading Al Ittihad’s attack and faces Toney’s Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro LeagueGetty
Ronaldo top scored in Saudi Arabia last season and faces competition from Benzema, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Toney this termGetty
However, his move to Saudi Arabia has raised questions over his Three Lions future, with the legendary Wayne Rooney telling talkSPORT he ‘might have ruined his chances’.
Such noise doesn’t appear to affect Toney then as when he was asked about his England chances potentially being damaged, he replied: “I’m only in control of what I can do on the pitch.
“If that’s the case, that they see me coming here is damaging my chances, then I can’t really change that. But, all I can do is focus on myself and play well, and who knows what can happen.”
Ronaldo and N’Golo Kante, who he will face in the Jeddah derby, are two players who signed for Saudi Pro League clubs and still competed for their countries on the big stage at Euro 2024.
Toney could look towards them as motivation as he added: “This league is a tough league. Obviously everybody has their opinion, doesn’t mean it’s factual.
“Like I said, I’m here to focus on myself, concentrate on myself and what will be, will be. If I was to get back involved in the mix on the international stage, then I’m ready for it. If not, then it is what it is.”
England, who will see Thomas Tuchel officially become their new manager at the beginning of 2025, are eyeing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Having missed out in Qatar two years ago despite many believing he should have been on the plane, the next tournament is in his sights.
He will face some familiar faces when he comes up against Al Ittihad in the Jeddah derby such as Fabinho and KanteGetty
“Well yeah of course,” he replied is being named in the England squad in the United States, Canada and Mexico is his goal.
“I’ve got to aim for those kind of things. But like I said, there’s other people competing so I’ve got to focus on myself.”
Toney then revealed that he spoke to England interim boss Lee Carsley but when questioned if his Three Lions future was a topic, he said: “Not really, we had a brief conversation. But like I said, there’s a squad of more than one player that he has to focus on.
“So yeah, we had a brief chat and that was it. Like I said, he’s got plenty of other players to focus on and the squad at the time, he chose.”
SAUDI PRO LEAGUE TOP SCORERS
Aleksandar Mitrovic: 10 goals
Karim Benzema: 8 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo: 6 goals
Houssem Aouar: 5 goals
Talisca: 5 goals
