It was a welcome home befitting a world champion. Having landed from Buenos Aires at London Heathrow at 7.30am on Monday, Alexis Mac Allister walked back into Brighton’s training ground at 10am to cheering colleagues and two confetti cannons spraying blue, white and gold.
‘It’s not as heavy as the real one,’ said Mac Allister after lifting a replica World Cup trophy bought by his proud Premier League club, who also draped the entranceway in Argentina flags.
Mac Allister looked awkward at first, as if embarrassed that this had all been arranged for his return as he embraced his Brighton team-mates.