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Alexis Mac Allister is thoroughly enjoying his time at Liverpool, and it's a former Reds player, Maxi Rodriguez, who inspired him to become a Premier League sensation.
Since his transfer from Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer of 2023, Mac Allister has quickly become a beloved figure amongst the Merseyside faithful. His $47M (£35m) move now appears to be a steal, having made 35 appearances for Arne Slot's team last season, contributing significantly to their title win.
The Argentine international, who won the World Cup in 2022, initially joined Brighton in 2019 but was promptly loaned back to Boca Juniors - a club known for its La Bombonera stadium, one of the most atmospheric football venues globally. Now, in an interview with GQ, he compares the passionate support he received at Boca to the adoration he currently experiences at Anfield.
He also discusses how becoming a footballer was always on the cards for him.
Mac Allister shared: "When I was younger, there weren't many Argentinians in the Premier League but I used to wake up very early in the mornings to watch players like Carlos Tevez and Maxi Rodriguez.
"I was a big fan of the Premier League, so I hope the next generations are doing the same with us, not just with me but with Argentinian players in general.
"In Argentina, it is quite hard not to get into football, but my dad never told us that we had to play football and it's not just me, my two brothers play football, one [Francis Manuel] in Argentina and the other one [Kevin] in Belgium.
"So it is definitely something that we chose. When we were kids, we used to watch our dad play football. So yeah, for us it's a big passion and we are really, really grateful that this sport has given us so much.
"I feel the level of passion is the common thing, especially when it comes to clubs. I come from a big club in Argentina, Boca Juniors, and I always compare their fans with Liverpool fans, but I would say that the passion is the only similarity that we have because in terms of the culture and the country, it's quite different."
Mac Allister and Argentina aim to retain their World Cup title next summer across the USA, Canada and Mexico, following their triumph in Qatar.
He became a crucial figure under Lionel Scaloni's guidance, providing composure in the heart of midfield after being thrust into the starting XI following their stunning opening defeat to Saudi Arabia.
"To play in a World Cup is really special. I had the opportunity to play in one and we won it, which is not easy at all. Qatar was in the middle of a season so this one is going to be different.
"But I don't think about the future. I know some players worry about getting injured before the World Cup, but I don't think that way. I always say that you have to go 100 percent every single game.
"It's not going to be easy [to win back-to-back World Cups] because there will be a lot of good teams, really good players and we understand it's not easy to win two in a row.
But we hope the next one is a big one for Argentina as well, and that we can defend the trophy and win another one. That's the mentality we have – we always want more."
English (US) ·