Manchester City and Chelsea have reportedly been blocked from signing Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister after an important phone call.
After losing the likes of James Milner, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, Liverpool underwent an overhaul of their midfield during the summer transfer window.
Argentina’s World Cup winner Mac Allister was the first signing of the summer after arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion in a deal worth £35m.
However, before Liverpool secured the 24-year-old’s signature, it was reported that Chelsea and City were also monitoring the midfielder.
Speaking to The Echo ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise, Mac Allister’s father Carlos said:
“The reason why Alexis went to Liverpool is because they showed so much interest in having him on their team.
“They showed the desire to count on him and we wanted Alexis to play in a team where he could be used from the start of the pre-season.
Moving on the first day of the transfer window – all that. It was very important because we wanted him to have good preparation for the team he wanted to sign with.
He continued: “Jürgen Klopp was a crucial figure in the transfer. He spoke to Alexis. When he received the call from Jürgen, it was important to decide which team he should play for.
“Alexis already likes working with Jürgen, and Jürgen likes working with Alexis.
I think it is very important for a player to train in a place where he feels loved and where his coach and his teammates also trust him at all times.”
Mac Allister will face his brother Kevin against Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday evening.
Carlos said: “Even though some brothers have already played against each other in Argentina, this match is different because it means a lot to me to see how the boys have grown in their career.
“They joke with each other all the time. Alexis says she will dribble Kevin, or Kevin says he will make a hard tackle, or Alexis says he will score. In the family WhatsApp group we joke and talk a lot. But they live everything in a healthy way.”
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