Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom has expressed his pride at seeing Alexis Mac Allister join Liverpool, saying the midfielder did "something special" by becoming the first Seagulls player to win the World Cup.
Mac Allister signed a five-year deal for the Reds on Thursday to become the first arrival of what is expected to be a major summer at Anfield. The fee has been undisclosed by both clubs but it is believed to be somewhere in the region of £35-45m.
Mac Allister arrives at Liverpool on the back of a historic campaign having helped Argentina win their first World Cup since 1986 in Qatar back in December before inspiring Brighton to Europa League qualification for the first time.
Having reportedly said their private goodbyes during an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas last week, Brighton owner Bloom has now sent a public one to Liverpool's new No.10 on the Seagulls' official website and manager Roberto De Zerbi was also fulsome in his praise of Mac Allister.
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"We are incredibly proud of Alexis and we are sad to see him go," said Bloom. "He did something very special, becoming the first Brighton & Hove Albion player to win the World Cup, and was a key player in our best-ever season.
"He will always be welcome here at Amex Stadium and in the city. On behalf of all Albion fans, I would like to thank Alexis for the many amazing memories and superb performances in a Brighton shirt and wish him well for the next chapter in his career."
De Zerbi added: "I’m proud to have been Alexis’s coach. He is a very talented player. It has also been a privilege to work with a guy who has strong and traditional values, and I want to wish him good luck for the future."
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