Behind-the-scenes as Max Alleyne received Manchester City recall notice at Watford | OneFootball

Max Alleyne has taken fans behind-the-scenes on the day he found out Manchester City had triggered a recall clause in his season-long loan at Watford.

The decision to bring the young defender back to the Etihad Stadium came amid a period where City have been managing injuries and fitness concerns in defence, with Alleyne’s recall viewed as both a necessity and a reward for his strong development away from Manchester.

Max Alleyne’s performances on loan at Watford in the Championship during the first-half of the ongoing season had caught the attention of those at the City Football Academy long before the recall clause was activated.

In recent weeks, supporters have already seen signs of the club’s confidence in him, from Pep Guardiola reportedly showing footage of Alleyne in team meetings to senior figures helping him settle into the first-team environment.

That faith was repaid by the player in impressive performances against Brighton, Exeter, and Newcastle United, before being handed a starting place in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday afternoon.

Now, speaking during a recent interview with The Sun, Max Alleyne opened up on the ‘crazy’ day that led to his emergency recall back to Manchester City, and the conversations that swiftly followed with Pep Guardiola.

“Yeah it’s been crazy. I keep saying it, but I’ve loved every second. I wouldn’t change it for anything,” insisted Alleyne.

The 20-year-old continued, “I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy my time at Watford, but at the end of the day, this was the ultimate goal: to be back here enjoying my football and playing and I’m really enjoying it. It was just all so sudden.

“I heard from my agent first while I was with my girlfriend and her family. Then it was straight in and ready to train the next day. We [him and Guardiola] caught up in the morning. He knows what my qualities are and knew me really well from the academy days.

“He knew what he wanted from me and what I could bring to this team. So we caught up and it was nice. We’ve not had a lot of time, but he’s so consistent in what he wants from us as a team and everyone knows their roles perfectly. So it makes it easy.”

Opening up on his targets and those of Manchester City’s first-team as a whole during the second-half of the season, Max Alleyne said, “That’s what we’re hoping for; hoping to stay in every competition and win as much as we can.”

With Manchester City competing across multiple fronts, Max Alleyne now finds himself in an environment where opportunities can arrive consistently, particularly given the physical toll of domestic and European schedules.

Continued strong performances in training and when handed opportunities in match action between now and the end of the season could see him become an increasingly reliable rotation option in defence.

For Max Alleyne personally, the challenge will only continue however as Manchester City finalise a deal for Crystal Palace captain and England international centre-back Marc Guehi – who will no doubt present serious competition in the club’s rearguard.