Alexis Mac Allister’s talent may not be comparable with Lionel Messi’s, but his undoubted ability has been apparent since his early days when he made his debut aged 17 in Argentina’s second tier with Buenos Aires side Argentinos Juniors in October 2016. His performances helped secure promotion that season, paving the way for a meteoric rise that saw him take his boyhood team to continental football and become the club’s second biggest sale ever when Brighton came knocking with an £8m offer in early 2019. Fame, however, didn’t immediately arrive and until not so long ago he could still walk largely unnoticed back home. After helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, 15,000 fans were waiting for him when he returned to his birth town of La Pampa. Now, he has signed for Liverpool in a £55m deal.
For those who have been there since the beginning, it feels like Mac Allister is fulfilling his destiny with the move to Anfield. Born to be a footballer, his father Carlos lined up alongside Diego Maradona for Argentina, his uncle Patricio played for Estudiantes de La Plata and his brothers Francis and Kevin currently feature for Rosario Central and Argentinos respectively. Mac Allister even helped his dad with the scouting reports he prepared for Spanish side Osasuna when he was still a youngster.
Having played a prominent part as Brighton secured European football for the first time in their 122-year history, he finished the last campaign with 12 goals in 40 matches. His father would often yell from the stands for him to “get into the box” during youth matches and Mac Allister admits it has influenced his playing style. Able to play in different roles ranging from defensive midfielder to operating behind the forwards, as well as central midfield, he will provide a breath of fresh air for Liverpool’s midfield. It will now be up to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp to take Mac Allister to another level and Cristian Zermatten, one of his earliest mentors, believes he can adapt to any position.
Alexis Mac Allister has come a long way since making his debut aged 17 in Argentina’s second tier and is now fulfilling his destiny by signing for Liverpool in a £55m deal. Born into a footballing family, he has been honing his skills since childhood and proved himself at Brighton, finishing the last campaign with 12 goals in 40 matches. His versatility and intelligence make him a valuable asset to Liverpool’s midfield and Jurgen Klopp will be looking to take him to the next level.