BARRY FRY celebrated Ivan Toney’s England call-up and beamed: “That will cost Brentford.”
No one was more delighted than Peterborough’s director of football when Gareth Southgate picked the in-form Bees striker.
For Fry, who helped launch Toney’s career, insisted: “Ivan is perfect for England — on and off the pitch.”
Harry Kane may be the first striker in the Three Lions’ squad list but Toney’s form gave Southgate plenty to consider.
Toney, 26, scored a brilliant hat-trick in his last outing against Leeds — taking his Bees’ goal tally to 52 in just 96 appearances.
And Fry, 77, knows the striker better than anybody having made him feel wanted at Posh when he struggled to get games at Newcastle.
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And the Peterborough chief said: “Nobody deserves an England cap more than him.
“I am delighted for Ivan and his family and when he plays for England I will be watching with lots of pride.”
Fry will also be rubbing his hands with glee when he does — because Peterborough will once again be in the money.
One of the best wheeler-dealers in the business, Fry is not shy in admitting he is cashing in on a player who cost him £300,000 from Newcastle just over four years ago.
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He would not divulge how much Brentford will have to fork out when he lands that first England cap.
But laughing, Fry said: “We’ve got a bonus if he spits, farts or f****** giggles!
“We’re brilliant with add-ons when we sell a player. We’ve got bonuses for appearances and goals etc. And I have to say Brentford are different class in paying up all the clauses, absolutely brilliant.”
The Bees shelled out an initial £5million for the ex-Northampton man which will rise to £10m with add-ons. And that move to West London may never have happened had Fry not stood his ground at Posh — and upset his star striker.
Fry explained: “The player, his dad and agent begged me to let him sign for Barnsley when they came in for him.
“I told him, ‘You want to sack your f****** agent for a start as you’re miles better than Barnsley’.
“I also told him, ‘I’ll make you a millionaire’ and I have — and I bet he’s f****** delighted now. Every time I go to Brentford now I see his dad and he’s full of smiles.”
Fry had no doubts that Toney would reach the top because of his hard work and temperament.
He said: “Look at his stats. His hat-trick against Leeds was superb and he’s one of the team’s best defenders.
“Basically, he’s an out-and-out centre-forward — one of a few in this country.
“I can’t believe Chelsea and Manchester United, who haven’t had a centre-forward, didn’t go out and buy him for £60m or £70m in the window.
“They are missing a proper centre-forward and had they got him, he’d have more chances and would flourish more.
“He holds the ball up, brings other players into play, makes chances and scores goals.
“And, just like he was at Peterborough, he’s one of Brentford’s best defenders when going back into defence.”
Toney’s slow walk-up penalties have baffled goalkeepers and delighted the fans.
Bees boss Thomas Frank called him the “the world’s best penalty taker” after his spot-kick against Leeds.
Fry added: “He didn’t take them like that at Peterborough. He took a couple but didn’t have the run-up he has now.”
Fry also knows Toney’s character can be a big help in the dressing room as he revealed: “He’s a great asset in lifting other players. His character was so good, we made him captain a few times — he’s got everything. What I love about him as well is he’s a lovely lad, too.”
Toney is a real family man and it was the family spirit at Peterborough which tempted him to move from Newcastle.
The striker made just two appearances in front of the Toon Army and was loaned out twice to Barnsley and Scunthorpe and once to Shrewsbury and Wigan.
Fry, who has worked at Posh for 26 years as manager and director of football, added: “Toney just wanted somewhere he could call home again after leaving nearby Northampton.
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“When he came down I told him, ‘Listen mate, you will love it here because I will stick you where everybody can see you’.”
And that was right up front where Toney bagged 40 goals in 76 appearances — which eventually tempted the Bees to buzz in.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
