Sundowns face record wage bill to keep Marcelo Allende

Mamelodi Sundowns may have to make Marcelo Allende the highest-paid player in the PSL if they are to retain the Chilean midfielder beyond the end of June.

Allende’s contract expires at the end of June, with the 25-year-old having joined Sundowns from Uruguayan club Montevideo City Torque in June 2022 on a three-plus-two-year deal.

His outstanding record under manager Miguel Cardoso has strengthened the case for a significant new offer. Allende became the first player to make 100 appearances since Cardoso took charge in December 2024, missing only eight matches during that period.

The midfielder is currently on a run of 44 consecutive appearances, having averaged 44 games in each of the past four seasons. This campaign, he has completed every match in which he has played except for four of his 20 appearances.

Those figures have underlined his importance to the Tshwane club, but it is the financial implications of his contract situation that are now attracting the most attention.

Information provided to the publication suggests Sundowns will need to offer Allende a package that makes him the best-paid player at the club and across the PSL if they want to keep him at Chloorkop.

Money is expected to be the decisive factor in determining whether he remains in South Africa or moves to either North or South America. Efforts are being made to place him in Mexico’s top division or Major League Soccer, where he could significantly increase his earnings while also moving closer to the attention of Chile’s national team selectors.

Despite his form and consistency for Sundowns, Allende has not been selected for Chile.

His next contract could be worth more than USD700 000 (approximately R11,5 million) a year and potentially close to USD1 million (approximately R16,4 million). Such salaries are considered readily available to clubs in Mexico and the United States.

A number of possible destinations are closer to home in South America, although the source indicates that none would be able to match what Sundowns are likely to offer in a new deal.

The South American clubs capable of paying more are mainly in Brazil, with a smaller number in Argentina. A move in that direction is regarded as unlikely unless there is a dramatic change in circumstances at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Sundowns’ next opponents in the FIFA Challenger Cup in Qatar next month will come from Brazil, Argentina or Mexico. The competition is set to be Allende’s final international tournament before his current agreement expires.