English boss Thomas Tuchel gave Ivan Toney a call-up Despite the joints of Saudi side al Ahli and his decision, the Middle East League has given a huge PR lift in the midst of claims that players only add for the money
Ivan Toney will become a poster boy for the Saudi Pro League. The shock of Toney returns to the English team for next week's qualifying match against Andorra in Barcelona and the friendly with Senegal in the city is seen as a milestone moment for the Saudi dream of darkening the Premier League as the largest inland football competition in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains the star attraction in the desert – and can now be accompanied by his teammate Bruno Fernandes of Portugal.
But Thomas Tuchel's decision to bring Toney back into the three Lions package has given the Arabic nation a huge PR lift, while they want to free themselves from the accusation that every player moving to Saudi is motivated by money.
It was thought that the 29-year-old striker had sacrificed his international career when he decided to cash in a three-year contract with Al-Ahli worth a stunning £ 63 million when he left Brentford in a £ 40 million deal last summer.
Jordan Henderson was ruthlessly dressed from the plans of Gareth Southgate after haunting wealth in the desert with Al -Etifaq – and even a return to Europe with Ajax after just six months later, the midfielder did not prevent the cut for last summer's euro.
New three lion boss Thomas Tuchel is not worried. The German reminded Henderson of his first team – and now Toney is back in the fold after a productive first season in Saudi.
The first team of Tuchel, named after the opening qualifications against Albania and Latvia, then included Burn, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marcus Rashford and Dominic Solanke and Henderson.
Ollie Watkins has now been added alongside Toney while the boss of England is looking for alternatives to skipper Harry Kane. Toney scored 28 goals in 42 games in all games when Al-Ahli lifted the Asian Champions League and was on goal 23 times in 30 league games.
He is recommended for a possible return to the Prem, but that now seems unlikely after his return to the attitude of England.
Toney won the last of his six caps when he came up as a replacement against Spain in the Euro 2024 Final – and he will now want to add to his lonely international goal after he has received the nod from Tuchel.
Al-Ahli now wants Fernandes to accompany himself at Toney at the club. Landing of the captain of Manchester United When manager Ruben Amorim has made it clear that Fernandes is the key to his old Trafford plans, another piece of astute things would represent-even if it is at the expense of £ 100 million transfer costs and wages of £ 650,000 a week.