Ex-Albion favourite reveals he was

The midfielder revealed he could have left in the summer as other players were having contracts renewed.

Fellow midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch both had their stays extended, but Mac Allister said his agent was told the club was “not in a position” to offer him one.

The Argentina international did not have his best season, with doubts expressed about whether he still had the legs for the Premier League, but that could have been said about the majority of Arne Slot’s title winners who put up a dismal defence.

Mac Allister was linked with a summer move, including to Wednesday’s Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid, but he still has two years remaining on his current deal and wanted to stay as he believes the team can still be successful.

He said: “There were options to leave this summer

“I think as everyone knows I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract, which of course makes me very, very sad.

“I think I give 100% for this football club every single day in training, games. Of course I can have very good games, bad games, like everyone, but I always give my best.

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“I see Dominik and Ryan renewing their contracts and that makes me very happy because they deserve it, but at the same time it makes me a little bit sad I didn’t get mine.

“Of course, there is still time, the fans don’t need to worry because I will give 100 per cent until the last day I am here. We will see what happens.

“But I think right now I am in the right club and I have the right mindset to give my 100% to the club.”

Mac Allister left the Seagulls in the summer of 2023 having helped Argentina win the World Cup during his time with the club.

He first signed in January 2019 and returned a year later after loans at Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors.

Some Albion fans still harbour hopes he could one day return to the club.

Performances last season arguably did not warrant a new contract for a player who turns 28 in December, but he was not the only under-achiever as the team lost 12 Premier League matches.