The Seagulls midfielder is with his national squad as they celebrate global glory with a friendly against effectively Panama’s second string at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, scene of the nation’s 1978 triumph. Mac Allister was a key man in Argentina’s Qatar success and was given a hero’s welcome back to the training ground in Lancing when he returned to club duty. It is still spoken about in Argentina. Speaking ahead of tonight’s match,
Alexis Mac Allister said: “People saw the affection that I have for the club and the affection that the club has for me. Since then there is stronger support. That people get up early in the morning to watch Brighton is a source of pride. There is an Argentine community that is very supportive of me and the club. And they are happy.”
Players and non-playing staff welcomed Mac Allister back to training after the World Cup, cheering and clapping as he walked into the reception area and then setting off confetti as he lifted a replica trophy. Asked if he was expecting such scenes,
Alexis Mac Allister said: “Not really. That’s when you start to realise what it means to win a World Cup. They came to pick me up at the airport, they took me directly and I anticipated that there was something, but not that much! I was embarrassed to hold up the trophy after greeting everyone but they insisted on it because there was ‘something else’. I picked it up and the pieces of paper exploded.”
Mac Allister told readers of Ole.com in Argentina that the reception was special.
Alexis Mac Allister added: “For me it was not a turning point. I have always had the love and support of the club since I arrived. It was very strong the first year because I didn’t get to play much. I knew they were expecting more because I came from Boca, an Argentine player. It was a big moment for the Argentine people with Brighton, how they welcomed me back.”
Mac Allister said Albion colleagues – and a notable midfield adversary in the Premier League – had been impressed by the reaction of Argentina fans to success in Qatar.
Alexis Mac Allister said: “When I got here, they had everything in mind and they told me, ‘It’s crazy, what it’s like to live that? I don’t want to imagine’. They laugh a lot about the Argentina fans who, when we sing, do like a little hand (makes a gesture). They drive me crazy with it. Every time they sing, they look at me and do it. They really enjoy Argentine people. The other day, against West Ham, the game was stopped for a few minutes and we got to talk to an opponent, Declan Rice. He congratulated me and we started talking about the five million people on the street. He said, ‘I play for England, but what you went through is crazy’. He is right. We are very grateful and privileged for that.”
Mac Allister is expected to start against Panama while Facundo Buonanotte is part of the squad and has been getting to know senior colleagues, including Lionel Messi.
The match kicks off at 11.30pm our time.
