Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has revealed that he is in "no rush" to leave the club amid interest from a host of top European clubs.
The 24-year-old elevated his game to new heights at the 2022 World Cup and starred for eventual winners Argentina, starting in six of their seven matches en route to the final in Qatar.
Mac Allister also impressed for Brighton before the World Cup break, netting five times in 14 Premier League appearances, and his form has triggered speculation about his future.
Recent reports claim that Chelsea – managed by former Brighton boss Graham Potter – have identified Mac Allister as a potential alternative to primary midfield target Enzo Fernandez.
Fellow Premier League sides Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest along with the likes of Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
Welcoming back our World Cup winner! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Bb2MoZmf2B
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 2, 2023
After being granted two weeks off to celebrate Argentina's World Cup success with his friends and family in his homeland, Mac Allister returned to Brighton on Monday and received an electric welcome from his teammates and members of staff.
Despite the potential pull of representing a top club competing in Europe, the midfielder insists that he is not planning to leave Brighton any time soon.
"I feel really good with this club and my teammates, and everyone who works here," Mac Allister told BBC Radio Sussex.
"I try not to read too much. I always say I am really happy here and I don't have any rush to leave. I am focused on the next game with this club."
Mac Allister arrived at Brighton from Argentinos Juniors for around €8m (£6.9m) in January 2019 and he has since established himself as a star player at the Amex, recording 13 goals and six assists in 86 appearances across all competitions.
© Reuters
The Santa Rosa-born midfielder became a first-team regular at the World Cup under Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni and enjoyed their World Cup celebrations on an open-top bus in front of around five million supporters lining the streets of Buenos Aires.
Speaking about the jubilant scenes in the Argentine capital, Mac Allister said: "It was amazing. The people in Argentina were crazy and really happy and we enjoyed it a lot with them.
"It was mad because there was five million people in the street celebrating and we couldn't get to the place that we wanted, but it was a really nice day with them. I think in that moment we realised what we did.
"I cannot describe with words what I felt. I just can tell you that I cried a little bit, I went into the bus because I didn't want them to know or to see me crying. I got emotional because it was such a special moment for me."
Mac Allister, who is under contract at the Amex until June 2025, is not expected to feature for Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton side when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
Oliver Thomas
