Mac Allister makes 'painful' Liverpool admission and makes transfer stance clear

Alexis Mac Allister has opened up on the 'painful' moment he was told that Liverpool didn't plan to renew his contract - but he still wants to stay at the club. Mac Allister, 27, has a deal with the Reds until June 2028 and continues to be a key player.

But the Argentina international's future was plunged into jeopardy last season when it emerged that Liverpool had put his future on the back burner, prioritising other renewals. Real Madrid were linked with a move in the summer transfer window, although Mac Allister stayed put and has been a mainstay since Andoni Iraola took over as manager.

In a new interview with Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, the midfielder opened up on his situation and made it clear that he's 'very happy' at Anfield, despite the disappointment. "First of all, obviously, I feel that affection from the fans, and that's something incredible for me," Mac Allister began.

"It's not easy at a club like Liverpool to be appreciated the way I am. I enjoy it a lot, and obviously winning a Premier League title with this club is something very special, something the fans don't forget.

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"Obviously, we're in a situation where I have a year-and-a-half left on my contract, and last season I was told that the club’s idea was not to renew it, at least for now. And obviously, that was a painful, unpleasant situation."

Asked how the news affected him, the former Brighton star replied: "Not that much, because at the end of the day, I still had, and still have, time left at this club, which is what I want most - to stay here.

"The reality is that the manager has now changed, the sporting director has changed, and new investors are coming into the club. So I think I'm now in a position where anything can happen.

"We'll see what happens in the future. I've always said that I'm very happy here, that I really enjoy it, and we'll see."

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Mac Allister then brought up how fellow Liverpool midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch were both given new deals earlier this year after he was told that he wouldn't be getting an extension. The 27-year-old explained: "They're two players who were in the same contractual situation as me, and when I was told that, they renewed their contracts.

"So it was more a position taken by the club, and generally that's how things are done. At the end of the day, as a club, you don't want to lose a lot of money, and you don't want players leaving on free transfers either.

"That's basically the idea, or how things work here in Europe in general. That's also why the situation happened."

Iraola recently hailed Mac Allister in a public show of appreciation. "Mac Allister, I always say, he understands the game overall," the Liverpool boss said. "Not just the demands of his position but what is happening overall.

"Sometimes he is the first to correct his team-mates live, not just the one that is next to him. He understands what is happening which is a very good quality to have.

"You mention the press conference (before the Atletico Madrid game), I was there also after him. The most important thing from it was that he wants to stay here.

"He wants to be at his best so he can continue helping us, no? He is a player who has achieved what he has achieved to be clear with his intentions is very good for us. I appreciate him and he is a top player."