Cardoso hopes Sundowns can keep ‘maestro’ Marcelo Allende

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is hoping the club can agree a new contract with Marcelo Allende, whose current deal expires at the end of the season.

The Chilean midfielder will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club in January under FIFA rules, leaving Sundowns facing the possibility of losing one of their most influential players.

Allende joined the club in 2022 from Uruguayan side Montevideo City Torque and has played a significant role in Sundowns’ success at Chloorkop. His honours with the Brazilians include the CAF Champions League.

Cardoso made clear after Sundowns’ 1-0 Carling Knockout victory over Golden Arrows at Loftus on Tuesday that he wants the 25-year-old to remain with the Tshwane club.

“I think you used a fantastic word to speak about Marcelo – he is ‘consistent’ and has been doing it for so many years,” said the Portuguese coach at his post-match news conference.

“As you know, when you play against Sundowns, that Sundowns must have Marcelo as a maestro. You know what a maestro in English is. We are going to do our best, and pretty sure, to keep him with us for a long time.”

Cardoso praised Allende’s professionalism and the contribution he makes both on and off the pitch, highlighting the midfielder’s work-rate in training and during matches.

“It’s a pleasure to see him training, it’s a pleasure to see him playing. He is one of the players to arrive [at training] and one of the last to go. He is one of the players that run many kilometers per match constantly, a player that we have a pleasure to know as a human being.

“He is absolutely fantastic him and his family,” added Cardoso.

Allende will now turn his attention to helping Sundowns claim another trophy when they face USM Alger of Algeria in the CAF Super Cup at Loftus on Sunday. The match is scheduled to begin at 15:00.

The fixture offers Sundowns the chance to add to the silverware collected during Allende’s time at the club, while negotiations over his future continue behind the scenes.