Mac Allister: Club told me last season they didn't plan to renew my contract

Liverpool midfielder and Argentina international Mac Allister spoke to Eduel, a reporter who covers the Argentina national team, about topics including his personal life and a possible contract renewal with the club.

Hi,how are you? You were on season one before, we talked last year.

Yes, that's right. But things have changed a bit now, because there are three of us in the house, right?

Not two anymore?

Now there are three of us. Honestly, I'm enjoying the baby, really enjoying her. She's growing fast, and the nights are a bit tough, but during the day and overall she's very well-behaved, a perfect score.

Has this changed your life?

Undoubtedly. You start rethinking many things, thinking differently and living differently. It makes traveling more difficult for me. It's harder every time I have to leave, but overall, as I said, she's very well-behaved. Her mom also gets to spend more time with the baby and is enjoying it, so we're getting along well.

Are you done, or if you could plan it, would there be more in the future?

No, no, I want more. I want more. We're four siblings: three on my mom's side, plus one girl on my dad's side, named Abril. Because I've lived that, I want to have several children too.

There's nothing better than having siblings and growing up with them. Honestly, I'm very happy. I had a wonderful childhood, so I hope the baby can enjoy all of that too. That's how I see it, but we'll see what happens in the future.

Football connects you, meaning you stay in touch because of football, but it also separates you because everyone is in a different place.

Yeah, it's crazy. In fact, I was talking to someone today, not just my two brothers and my dad, but also my uncle.

I also have a cousin who plays in Indonesia, and another cousin who is the sporting director of Deportivo Maldonado in Uruguay. In other words, our whole family is a football family, and we love to get together and chat, or send each other messages after games saying "hey, you did well here, not so well there," exchanging ideas and helping each other improve. We all enjoy it.

Yes. You've been playing in the Premier League for several years now. What's your current situation at Liverpool?

Honestly, I'm feeling great, even though last season was tough for us, for the club, and for the whole team. But this season we're playing well again and sitting near the top of the table. We have a very important match this weekend, so personally, I feel very good.

Has the team improved compared to last year?

Yes, it's better.

A giant club like Liverpool always has talent. In fact, we had that quality last season too, so that's no excuse, but something else was going on that unfortunately kept the whole team from performing. Now I feel like we've found something again.

I think we're doing well as a whole, as a team, and we know exactly what we need to do, so we're in a better situation now.

The other day we saw you in a close game, and you took the first penalty in the shootout. Was that the coach's decision, or did you ask to take it?

It was the coach's decision. Of course, if he hadn't decided that, I would have volunteered, but this was our first penalty shootout with this coach. He made the call, and I was happy with it. I like to take responsibility, and fortunately it worked out well.

Yes, the goalkeeper dove that way, but you hit it hard and high.

Yeah, and the goalkeeper is very tall, so the less you look at him, the better.

We made a video at the game, and I talked to fans outside for half an hour. Almost 100% of them want you to stay, and 100% of them approve of you. Where do things stand now? It feels like you still don't know what will happen next, right? I don't know how you see it.

In principle, I can obviously feel the fans' affection, and for me it's incredible. It's not easy to earn that kind of recognition at a club like Liverpool. I really enjoy all of this.

Obviously, winning the Premier League with Liverpool is something very special that fans won't forget.

Yes, and I still have a year and a half left on my contract. Last season, they told me that the club's current idea is not to renew, at least for now. Honestly, it was a painful, awkward situation.