‘I’m better than him’ - Nile Ranger rips into former Newcastle United player on £400k-a-week

Both forwards - whose paths did not cross on Tyneside - were signed as prospects but ultimately failed to make the cut at St James’ Park. However, while Ranger’s talent was squandered through off-field controversies, Toney has gone on to have a stellar career.

The 29-year-old rose through the divisions before establishing himself as a top Premier League striker at Brentford. His heroics earned him six England caps before an eventual big-money move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.

With Ranger now plying his trade at Kettering Town in the seventh tier, Toney earns a reported £400,000 per week. However, the former Newcastle bad boy insisted that, penalties aside, he is a better player.

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“His penalty taking, it’s cold,” Ranger said. “But you see, hold up and all that. If I behave myself, let me just break it down. I’m better than Ivan.”

“I swear to you, when I saw that, Ivan Toney, I sat in my car like this and said, because I know him, he’s cool, isn’t he? Like, I’m not gonna rub it like this and it’s cold. Best penalty taker I’ve ever seen. I looked at myself like, Arsenal want Ivan Toney? And I am better than Ivan Toney.

“I swear to you, I’m not even joking. Yeah, I was ahead of him, but then he started just, then he went to Peterborough, and started banging off then. All right, Ivan Toney, don’t ever get it twisted but I swear down, if it’s not penalties, I’m better than him.”

Ivan Toney honestly reflected on Newcastle United failures

Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2021, Toney opened up about using his Newcastle rejection as fuel. When he was axed for a pittance in 2018, Rafa Benitez, then Toon boss, was tasked with getting the club promoted.

Toney was an unproven 20-year-old so the goalscoring burden was given to new arrival Dwight Gayle. Toney said four years ago: “Rafa (Benitez) came in, he had a decision to make and he made it, which was clear and fair enough.

“He didn’t see me in his plans. If somebody doesn’t want you, it isn’t the end of the world. It’s their choice. You might not fit in with their style of play, or it might be something little, you don’t know. But just because one manager doesn’t want you, it doesn’t mean another one won’t.

“You want to prove to yourself that you can do it and I think that’s what I’ve done. I have to keep doing what I can to get Brentford promoted and then I won’t have to worry about other clubs so-called buying me.

“I want to be the player that everyone talks about, but one step at a time. Hopefully, within two or three years, I’ll be an established Premier League player.”

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