Alexis Mac Allister: Argentine Prodigy Edging Closer To Brighton Debut

The tangled web of football player ownership and the need for work visas has always been a difficult one to understand. For Brighton and Hove Albion fans, the problem of potentially one of their best midfielders playing abroad as he waits for a work permit is one that is hard to swallow. After Graham Potter’s Brighton was humbled by Manchester City in the Premier League, the praise heaped on the club by City manager Pep Guardiola for the attacking style of the team.

As the international break arrived, attention for Potter and Brighton fans turned to South America and the chances of Alexis Mac Allister making his debut for Argentina. The central midfielder was signed by Brighton and Hove Albion in early 2019 after some impressive displays for Argentinos Juniors but has so far failed to receive a U.K. work permit because of a lack of international appearances. Officials at the Amex signed Mac Allister to a four and a half year contract to make sure he had plenty of time to make his debut and establish himself for Argentina.

Mac Allister would eventually make his debut for Argentina in a friendly against Chile played in the U.S. Argentina were short of a number of stars including Lionel Messi allowing Mac Allister to force his way onto the field as a second-half substitute. There is little doubt the addition of another international-level midfielder would boost the prospects of Potter team as he plans for a future that should see the club playing some of the most attacking football in the English Premier League. Guardiola was full of praise for the new manager of the Seagulls after his team beat Albion 4-0 with Potter’s men unlucky not to score at least twice.

Alexis Mac Allister has been loaned to Boca Juniors in Argentina and will remain there throughout the coming season as he tries to build his international experience before arriving in the Premier League. The unconventional nature of the arrival of Mac Allister in the English Premier League is the latest aspect of the appointment of Potter who has taken a different approach to gaining coaching experience before moving to the English Premier League.

Potter is looking to bring a different approach to Brighton’s play and training because of the work he has completed in Sweden and the English Championship. Potter has not been willing to sacrifice his attacking principles whether coaching at the Swedish club, Ostersund, or in the Championship with Swansea when his hands were tied by financial constraints.

If Potter can bring in Alexis Mac Allister and place his imprint on the Albion in the coming months the South Coast of England club could become one of the growing numbers of teams challenging for European football by finishing in the top seven where Everton, West Ham, and Leicester City are all lining up.