Now 38, Maxi’s ongoing, 20-year career has taken him full circle back to first club Newell’s Old Boys in his homeland.
An impressive footballing journey also, of course, included a two-and-a-half-year stay at Anfield, during which he endeared himself to Liverpool fans thanks to a blend of skill and diligence that brought about 17 goals in 73 appearances for the club.
Time and distance hasn’t detracted from Maxi’s personal feeling of affinity towards the Reds, though, as Liverpoolfc.com found out when catching up with him at Estadio Metropolitano in the build-up to Saturday’s final…
So Maxi, Liverpool are playing in a Champions League final in the city you called home for a few years during your time with Atletico. How do you see the game going?
It’s going to be a fantastic occasion. This is almost like a home to me, where I played for many years with Atletico Madrid so it’s just great that Liverpool are coming here to play and it’s sure to be a very moving occasion. Let’s hope it’s an entertaining game and that it’s Liverpool who are lifting the trophy at the end.
Will you be going to the game on Saturday, then?
Yes, I’ll be there watching from the stands! I reckon it will be a great game and especially so being there and living it like any other Liverpool fan. I can tell you that I’m a bit nervous already and I can’t wait for Saturday to come around.
What impresses you about this Reds team and how have they improved this season?
I think they have developed a playing style of the highest standard. They are a side who are very familiar with the system that they play. All managers and coaches always try to impose their own style on a team and to tweak certain things, but more than anything the way they play is very entertaining and they have got into the habit of winning, which is the key. Under Klopp the team has changed a lot, for the good. And that’s really great as I believe that every time the team goes out on the pitch, they know exactly what they are doing tactically, and they know they are in with a great chance of winning the game. But they have a plan and a mindset, which is the most important thing.
Liverpool’s path to the final has been a dramatic one - especially the semi-final against Barcelona. Did you watch the second leg of that tie and could you believe what you were seeing?
Yes, I did watch it, I watch all of Liverpool’s matches. And when it’s a real spectacle like the game against Barcelona, no-one who likes football can afford to miss out on a game like that. It was unmissable for any fan! I was quite confident going into the tie, and you could say that whichever side won, they would probably have deserved it. But then that comeback from Liverpool was so amazing, and even better as it was at Anfield, which is one of those legendary stadiums that gives off so many great vibes to the players. So that’s how it all unfolded, and I have to say it was just spectacular. Now it’s all about finishing the job in the final in the best way possible.
As an attacking player yourself, how much would you have enjoyed teaming up with the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah?
Yes, you do sometimes wonder about how you might fit into certain other teams. But yes, it’s a very attack-minded side, and yes, I certainly prefer the offensive side of the game to any defensive duties so I’m sure I would have really liked it a lot. But then I had a really great time in that Liverpool side when I was there, playing alongside players like Steven Gerrard, so I definitely can’t complain about anything from my time at Liverpool!
You had the chance to play for Mauricio Pochettino earlier in your career at Espanyol. How do you feel that Tottenham Hotspur will be preparing for this game?
I believe he is a guy with a winning mentality and his character is to lead from the front. But the key is that this is a final and so both teams will be setting up to try to win the game. They will approach the game in this way. Mauricio has also been doing very well at Tottenham for a good few years now, and I believe he also deserves all the credit for what he has achieved there, in getting through to this final.
Finally, where do you think the final might be won and lost tactically?
Both teams are comfortable in possession and like to play football. I think it will be an open game. I know that most of the time finals can be tight, cagey affairs but I think that both teams here will be striving to strike the first blow in order to then try to settle things down a bit more. If there is an early goal, I think we’ll then see the game really start to open out. If Liverpool can grab that early lead, you could perhaps see things starting to go their way.