Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has revealed just how near he came to quitting English soccer entirely, a choice that might have dramatically changed the course of his career.
The 26-year-old has thus far experienced a fairytale career–capturing the Premier League with Liverpool and assisting Argentina to Copa America and World Cup glory–yet he initially found it tough following his arrival in England.
Mac Allister joined Brighton from Argentinos Juniors in January 2019 but was sent back on loan before spending the subsequent campaign at Boca Juniors. Following impressive performances during these periods in his native country, Brighton brought Mac Allister back in January 2020, making his debut against Wolves in March 2020.
Nevertheless, that proved to be the Seagulls' last match before football was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The cultural adjustment of exchanging Argentina for England and the impact of the ongoing pandemic left Mac Allister feeling isolated.
He confessed to packing his belongings and being prepared to depart Brighton, which might have stopped him from becoming a legend for Liverpool and Argentina.
"As footballers, we always say that you become a man very early. But in other ways, you're still a boy," Mac Allister wrote for Players' Tribune, reflecting on his time at Brighton in 2020.
"I was calling my mom on FaceTime every day, asking how to turn on the oven and where to put the detergent. And being alone, without playing, you get depressed.
"Many don't know this, but by that Christmas, with no fans in the stadiums, I had my bags packed. Literally, they were packed. I had two offers to leave - one from Russia and another from Spain, and my mind was made up.
"My mom was back in Buenos Aires, and I called her one day crying my eyes out, telling her, "I quit. I can't do this anymore'. But moms.... They always know what to say, don't they?"
Alexis Mac Allister playing for Brighton
Alexis Mac Allister admitted to struggling at a point in his Brighton career (Image: Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images)
Mac Allister clearly heeded his mother's counsel and remained at Brighton. When the Premier League returned, he appeared in all bar one of the Seagulls' fixtures.
Following a period drifting in and out of the side, Mac Allister established himself as a consistent starter the subsequent campaign, with his performances ultimately securing him a return to the Argentina setup months prior to the 2022 World Cup.
Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp subsequently pursued the World Cup victor, with Mac Allister forming part of a midfield reconstruction that established the groundwork for Arne Slot's championship-winning outfit. Mac Allister, who also delivered a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota, remains keenly conscious of how dramatically his career trajectory might have altered had he disregarded his mother's wisdom in 2020.
"I have to give a big hug to my mother," Mac Allister said. "Without her, none of this would have happened. I would not be a Premier League champion. I certainly would not be a World Cup champion. Maybe you would not even know my name."
He added: "Can you imagine if I had left for Spain? For Russia? I would be an answer in one of those pub quizzes they have in England.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring for Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister scored against Spurs to help Liverpool clinch the Premier League title in April (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"Next question: who was the Argentinian guy with the Irish name who played 15 games for Brighton? Ahhhh, damn. Who was that guy? Mac something... What happened to him?" But no, that was not my fate. My mom saved me."
Mac Allister featured 35 times as Liverpool secured the Premier League crown by 10 points last season.
As he gears up to assist the Reds in defending their title, the midfielder acknowledges his pride in refusing to abandon his ambitions.
"In 2020, my name was nothing. I couldn't get a game for Brighton," Mac Allister reflected. "I was crying with my mom on FaceTime, begging to come home. Two years later, I was a World Cup Champion. Then a Copa América champion. Now I'm a Premier League champion. Even a Ballon D'Or nominee.
"That's football, no? It's so crazy. The only way that I can explain my story is that I never gave up. That's what I'd like to teach my daughter in a few years. Yes, Daddy fought against a lot of things, but he knew how to overcome them all. You just keep fighting. That's the great lesson."