Liverpool summer signing Alexis Mac Allister has insisted he has no problem wearing the famous number 10 shirt at Anfield and praised the club for the welcome he’s received.
The midfielder has been speaking to La Nacion in Argentina following a big few months for him that started with a World Cup win in Qatar and then a big money move to Anfield in the summer transfer window.
The Argentina international is now a bonafide star in European football and that means he wasn’t afraid of taking on a big mantle when he arrived at Anfield.
He’s taken the vacant number ten shirt in Liverpool’s squad, a number which has been free since Sadio Mane’s move to Bayern Munich.
He achieved plenty wearing the number on his back and isn’t the first to do so either, with players such as John Barnes, Luis Garcia, Philippe Coutinho and Michael Owen all wearing it down the years.
It means there is plenty of pressure to succeed but the World Cup winner is not concerned about that in the slightest.
“Yes, yes, it is a great pride for me. It is a very great happiness,” he said.
“When they gave me the chance to wear the ten, I didn’t hesitate, because it is a very important number, not only in football, but in the history of a club as big as Liverpool.
“And well, I continue working and learning to be able to represent it in the best way. I think that is the most important thing and what will give me even more satisfaction in the future.”
Mac Allister has adapted quickly to life at Liverpool, establishing himself as a key player since his arrival from Brighton.
He is now very much a part of the Reds squad and a firm favourite for Jurgen Klopp, so much so that his new teammates have even joked there is a bit of favouritism going on.
It seems establishing himself at a new club in a new city has not been a difficult task, and he praises the set up behind the scenes for that.
“After adapting quickly to Liverpool, I feel that it is because I found a huge club where people live like a family,” he added.
“I feel that it is wonderful, because there are incredible personal relationships, staff that help you with everything and everyone has a humility that impacts.
“That is what stands out the most and I think that is why in two or three months I have felt, or I already feel, part of the group, I already feel part of the club.”
