With his initial contract coming to an end in June this year, the South African champions have moved quickly to exercise the option on one of their most dependable midfielders.
As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, the contract of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Marcelo Allende is believed to be expiring on 30 June, but now they are assured of either keeping or selling him to the highest bidder.
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Now insiders close to the club have indicated that Sundowns are believed to have exercised the option on Allende's contract for a further two years.
"The initial contract was for three years and it had a 1+1 option on it. This means they can exercise two different one-year options and it's believed that the club has done that. In essence this means he has another two years on his contract which will be expected to run until June 2027. It's as good as done as it's believed that all involved parties are happy with the new deal," the source told the Siya crew.
Meanwhile a second insider stated that Sundowns had to make sure that they tie down Allende so that they don't lose him for free.
"There has been interest in him from Europe and if they didn't exercise the option they have on him then they would lose him for free. And even if he doesn't leave (with the contract) they will know that he is committed to the team for at least the next two years," the second insider pointed out.
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The Chilean midfielder joined Sundowns in 2022 on a three-year contract. This season the 26-year-old has been influential in helping the club win their 8th league title in a row, having played in the vast majority of league games.
This contract extension represents smart business from Sundowns as they prepare for their upcoming FIFA Club World Cup participation. By securing Allende's services until 2027, the club has protected one of their most valuable assets while maintaining flexibility for a potential future sale.
For the Chilean midfielder, this extension provides security while still leaving the door open for a European move should the right offer arrive. As Sundowns continue their local dominance, retaining key performers like Allende will be crucial to their ambitions of challenging on the global stage against some of the world's elite clubs.
