Marcelo Allende: Getting to know Sundowns’ newest signing

Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday unveiled Marcelo Allende as their newest signing, and their fifth in the current transfer window.

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Allende reportedly cost Sundowns R51 million, and he comes with high expectations as the club wants to NOT only dominate locally but the entire African continent.

Allende is known in South America but he is relatively unknown on the continent let alone in South Africa, but for Sundowns signing unknown stars has become a norm.

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WHO IS SUNDOWNS NEWEST SIGNING MARCELO ALLENDE?

Allende is a 23-year-old diminutive attacking midfielder who was born in Pudahuel, Chile on 7 April 1999.

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He turned professional in 2016, a year after taking the football world by storm at the 2015 U17 FIFA World Cup with Chile on home soil.

At the time, Allende was signed by Club de Deportes Santa Cruz before joining Mexican outfit Necaxa in 2017.

However, he would be loaned back to Santa Cruz the same year before Chilean Primera B side Deportes Magallanes gave him chance.

In 2020, Allende made a switch to Uruguayan club Montevideo City Torque where he spent the last two years until Sundowns came knocking for his signature.

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He made his debut for Sundowns on the day he was unveiled, Wednesday, 24 August 2022 against Stellenbosch FC where he came on a second half substitute.

Interestingly, Allende netted on his debut as Sundowns beat Stellies 3-0 to pick up maximum points.

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At Montevideo, Allende made 106 appearances across all competitions, scored 18 goals and recorded 23 assists during his two-year stay.

Allende is a full Chile international with a single cap to his name – he made his senior national team debut on 21 December 2021 in the 1-0 win over El Salvador.

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