Marcelo Allende has come out and said it: 2026/27 is the final year of his contract at Mamelodi Sundowns, at least on paper. Nothing new has been signed, and just like that, the Chilean’s future at Chloorkop has become one of those questions everyone starts asking.
He brought it up ahead of Sundowns’ FIFA Intercontinental Cup game against Saudi side Al Ahli. His tone wasn’t dramatic about it. Yes, the future’s uncertain. No, it won’t change how he plays. He’s still a Sundowns player and he’ll carry on like one.
Where things stand with the deal
Allende is in the last season of his current contract. He came to the Pretoria club in 2022 from Uruguayan outfit Montevideo City Torque, and going by recent reporting, that original deal was three years plus a two-year option, which runs his commitment out to June 2027.
So far there’s no new contract. And this isn’t the first time he’s raised it. Back in May he pointed out he had a year left but didn’t know what would follow the 2025/26 season. As for talks over a fresh deal? He says there haven’t been any yet.
He’s not letting it eat into his football, though. His line on it is pretty plain. Whatever happens when the season’s done, he wants to give his best for as long as he’s still there.
He’s still pulling his weight
The contract cloud hasn’t taken anything off his game. Allende has been a handy man to have around since he landed in South Africa, and Sundowns have moved him about the midfield depending on what they need. In August 2026 he lined up alongside Sphelele Mkhulise and Bathusi Aubaas for the Betway Premiership meeting with Kaizer Chiefs.
He turns up with the big moments, too. February 2026, off the bench, he scored the goal that won it 1-0 against AmaZulu.
What comes next
Right now Allende is a Sundowns player with his head on the 2026/27 season. Nothing says he’s agreed to leave, and no club has been nailed down. There’s been talk of possible interest from Major League Soccer and Mexico if he’s available, but that’s chatter, not a signed transfer, and it’s worth treating it that way.
What’s actually confirmed is the smaller, plainer fact: he’s in the last year of his Sundowns contract and no extension has been made public. Everything else — a new deal, a move, or him just staying put — hangs on talks still to come between him and the club.
Allende at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Marcelo Iván Allende Bravo |
| Nationality | Chilean |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Current club | Mamelodi Sundowns |
| Joined Sundowns | 2022 |
| Contract status | Final year |
| Reportedly runs until | June 2027 |
Source: Based on Marcelo Allende’s comments ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns’ FIFA Intercontinental Cup fixture against Al Ahli, and recent reporting on his contract, career and time at the club.
Editorial policy: Our sports coverage reports what players and clubs have actually said or confirmed, and keeps that apart from speculation. Transfer rumours and reported interest are labelled as such, and we don’t dress up unconfirmed moves as fact.
Corrections policy: If we get a fact wrong, we check it against the original comments or an authoritative source and fix confirmed errors promptly, flagging the significant ones where it matters.
Disclaimer: Contract and transfer situations move fast. This reflects the position as reported at the time of writing, and anything that follows will come down to decisions taken by the player and the club.
Changes this round: opened on a punchier, spoken line instead of a formal news lead; varied the rhythm hard, from short jabs to longer sentences; used everyday football-talk (“handy man to have around”, “the goal that won it”, “that’s chatter, not a signed transfer”); broke up the neat parallel phrasing; asked a couple of questions the way a person actually would; and trimmed the stiffer verbs. All names, dates, scores and the contract facts stay exactly as reported.
