Marcelo Allende is believed to be on the radar of Sundowns. Photo: Archives
CLOSER LOOK: Who is Sundowns’ new high-profile signing?
Mamelodi Sundowns’ latest signing, Chilean midfield superstar Marcelo Allende, previously spent time on trial with Arsenal’s youth team.
Marcelo Allende is believed to be on the radar of Sundowns. Photo: Archives
So far, Sundowns had made a couple of big ‘official’ signings, with Sipho Mbule recruited recently, while earlier this year the Brazilians secured the services of Abubeker Nassir from Ethiopian Coffee after undergoing a successful trial.
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Other recent reports had linked Sundowns with talented Moroccan defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil, and this has now been confirmed by his parent club SCC Mohammedia. This past week it was revealed that Bafana keeper Ronwen Williams has joined Sundowns as well.
It’s been confirmed by Uruguayan side Montevideo City Torque that Chilean midfield sensation Marcelo Allende is now also set to move to the DStv Premiership champions on what is reported to be a three-year deal. Allende had joined the Uruguayan club on a free transfer in January 2020.
“Marcelo Allende, player of Los Ciudadanos for three seasons and top assister in the history of Montevideo City Torque has been transferred to Mamelodi Sundowns,” the club said in a statement.
“The club thanks the player for his great humanity and professional quality. All of the best for the future, Marcelo!”
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So who is the talented youngster coming to Sundowns?
Allende captained Chile at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and was the team’s top goalscorer, while he is widely considered one of the top youth prospects in Chilean football
In 2016, the player transferred to Deportes Santa Cruz in order to gain more playing time, and by the second he had become a regular starter.
Allende then had a two-week trial with English club Arsenal, featuring for their under-19 team at the Durban International Cup, and in 2017 he was reported to be in line for a contract offer from the Gunners.
However, Allende signed up with Mexican side Necaxa, with the intention of rejoining the club in 2018, while remaining on loan with Santa Cruz. He then spent time with Chilean club Deportes Magallanes in 2019, before joining Montevideo in 2020. He racked up 16 goals and a club-record 23 assists in 87 appearances across all competitions.
On the international scene, besides playing for the Chile age-group teams, Allende made his debut for Chile national team on 11 December 2021 in a 1–0 win over El Salvador.
Allende, who is a highly-regarded 23-year-old attacking midfielder, is now set to move to Chloorkop.
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“In order to get him out of the club belonging to the City Football Group, Mamelodi Sundowns had to pay three million dollars, an extremely important figure for the charruas, who in 2020 transferred to the club on a free deal,” reads part of a report in Chilean publication Encancha.
“After completing his move to Magallanes, the player was released and ended up signing in the Uruguayan capital at zero cost.”
Highly-regarded coach Martin Lasarte has said it’s understandable that Allende would make a big-money move to a “big team”.
“It’s a big team. Just as it may surprise Allende to go to South Africa, it would also surprise what they have paid for him and the salary he will have,” he told En Cancha.
“I am happy for Marcelo; he deserved a sports opportunity which did not appear, and this possibility arises that, in addition to sports, it is economical.”
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