Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister reflects on his ‘mad’ World Cup victory with Argentina
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It was a welcome home fit for a world champion. Having touched down from Buenos Aires at London Heathrow at 7.30am on Monday, Alexis Mac Allister returned to the Brighton training ground at 10am to cheer on his colleagues and two confetti cannons spraying blue, white and gold.
“It’s not as heavy as the real thing,” Mac Allister said after hoisting a replica World Cup trophy bought by his proud Premier League club, which also draped the entrance with Argentine flags.
Mac Allister looked awkward at first, as if embarrassed that everything had been arranged for his return as he hugged his Brighton teammates. But the 24-year-old midfielder from Santa Rosa will have to get used to it. Everyone wants to shake hands with a World Cup winner.
Alexis Mac Allister was a key part of Argentina’s recent World Cup victory in Qatar
He smiled sheepishly when he asked sports mail if you like all the attention. “Not really, I’m a shy guy,” Mac Allister replied. “I don’t like being in the center.
‘In Argentina I couldn’t go out. People were crazy, ringing the doorbell of my house. There were a few times where I signed some shirts but couldn’t get out every five minutes!
‘I can’t believe I won the World Cup. It was crazy, that day and the day we went out in Buenos Aires, five million people in the streets, 36 degrees (97°F). We get excited, of course.
‘Even a month before the World Cup I didn’t know if I would go or not. But I will keep it in my mind forever. I have my jersey, the medal, a replica of the World Cup. Not many raise that glass. It was really nice and heavy!
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He has admitted not knowing if he would be at the tournament a month before it started.
Mac Allister has yet to see the final, one of the best ever, as Argentina drew 3-3 with France before winning 4-2 on penalties, but he promises he will in the coming days.
He is humble when asked about his assist for Angel di Maria, who Mail on Sunday sports editor Oliver Holt compared this week to Pelé’s assist for Carlos Alberto’s goal in the World Cup final. from 1970.
“It was a very good ball, but Angel scored 90 per cent of the goal,” said Mac Allister modestly.
There was no tension that day either. “I didn’t feel pressure,” she explained. ‘I didn’t feel nervous. The day of the final I took a nap for two hours. We knew it was going to be the best day of our lives and it was. The reason Mac Allister returned to Brighton training ground on Monday, immediately after a 14-hour flight, was not because of this warm welcome.
He assures that he did not “feel pressure” or “nerves” on the day of the World Cup final
It was because he told manager Roberto De Zerbi he wanted to train so he could face Everton at Goodison on Tuesday night, the ground where he scored twice in last season’s 3-2 Premier League win.
“Roberto knows I want to play,” Mac Allister said. But he has to decide. The most important thing is that I am here. I’m ready to play.
De Zerbi had two questions for Mac Allister when they first met on Monday. The first was: ‘Why didn’t you take a penalty in the quarterfinal shootout against the Netherlands?’ The second was: ‘What is your best position on the pitch?’
Brighton know that Premier League rivals will pay attention to Mac Allister. There is already talk of Graham Potter’s Chelsea targeting Enzo Fernández as an alternative if the Benfica midfielder is too expensive.
Mac Allister is now back at Brightin, a club he is ‘focused’ on and ‘happy’ to be at
However, Brighton had the foresight to link their Argentine to a new long-term deal a month before the World Cup. That contract lasts until 2025 with the option of another year. Chelsea would have to spend a hefty sum, similar to the £60m they paid Brighton for Marc Cucurella, to get Mac Allister in this transfer window.
Even so, De Zerbi seemed resigned to losing Mac Allister on Monday, but urged him to stay on until at least the end of the season.
“I’m happy if he wants to stay with us until the end of the season and I think it’s better for him,” De Zerbi said. For us, sure, but also for him because at the moment changing teams in January can be a problem.
‘Starting over after winning the World Cup is not so easy. The last match he played was the World Cup final. For him, Brighton is his home and playing another six months at home is very important to him.
“I’m focused on Brighton,” said Mac Allister.
‘You know how grateful I am and I’m in no hurry to leave. I am very happy here. I enjoy every day. It will be a major achievement if we can enter Europe.
He received a Happy New Year message from his legendary Argentine teammate Lionel Messi
‘The coaching staff, my teammates, everyone at the club helped me to be a better player. When I wasn’t playing, I was a bit pissed off, but then I understood that I also had to help my teammates.
‘This club gave me the opportunity to improve my game. I’m really thankful.
Mac Allister received a message from Lionel Messi on Sunday thanking him for everything and wishing him a happy new year.
And the Brighton number 10 is hoping the Argentina number 10 does not follow through on his earlier promise to retire. “We don’t want that,” he said. ‘He knows it.’
With that, the shy, smiling, super World Cup winner Brighton has to go. Even after a long day that started in Buenos Aires, Mac Allister is ready for his next trip: to Everton.