Mac Allister admits Liverpool contract snub was 'painful' but insists he wants to stay

Alexis Mac Allister has spoken candidly about the moment Liverpool informed him the club had no immediate plans to extend his contract, describing it as a ‘painful, unpleasant situation’ — while making clear he has no desire to leave Anfield.

The 27-year-old Argentina international, who has two years remaining on his deal through June 2028, addressed his future in an interview with Argentine journalist Gastón Edúl. Despite Real Madrid being linked with a move during last summer’s transfer window, Mac Allister stayed at Liverpool and has become a regular starter under new manager Andoni Iraola.

“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,” Mac Allister said. “And obviously, that was a painful, unpleasant situation.”

The former Brighton midfielder said the news did not destabilise him entirely, pointing to the time he still has left on his current terms. “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,” he added.

Mac Allister also noted that the landscape at Liverpool has shifted considerably since he received that news. A new manager, a new sporting director, and incoming investors have altered the club’s direction. “The reality is that the manager has now changed, the sporting director has changed, and new investors are coming into the club,” he said. “So I think I’m now in a position where anything can happen. We’ll see what happens in the future.”

The midfielder pointed to the renewals handed to fellow Liverpool midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch — both of whom were in comparable contract situations — as an illustration of how the club’s thinking evolved. “They’re two players who were in the same contractual situation as me, and when I was told that, they renewed their contracts,” he explained. “So it was more a position taken by the club, and generally that’s how things are done.”

Mac Allister, who was part of the Liverpool squad that won the Premier League title, acknowledged the bond he has built with supporters. “I feel that affection from the fans, and that’s something incredible for me,” he said. “It’s not easy at a club like Liverpool to be appreciated the way I am. I enjoy it a lot.”

With Iraola now embedding his style at Liverpool, Mac Allister appears settled as a key figure in midfield. Whether the club moves to secure his long-term future before his contract enters its final year remains to be seen.