Chilean coach explains why Marcelo Allende is overlooked by national team - 'They don't know anything about Mamelodi Sundowns here'

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jorge Acuna has opened up about Marcelo Allende's prospects of returning to the Chilean national team.

Since 2021, the 25-year-old star has not been considered by Chile national team coaches and he has just one cap for his country.

Acuna, who is now a coach in Chile having coached Union San Felipe and Santiago City, has shared insights into the challenges faced by Allende in gaining recognition from national team coach Ricardo Gareca.

"It is complicated for (Marcelo) Allende. What happens is that here they don’t know anything about Sundowns, they don’t know what Allende is doing,'' Acuna told KickOff.

"So, it is difficult for him to be called up. When I went to Sundowns, I stopped being considered for the Chilean national team. They don’t get to see South African football here, so it’s difficult for one to be called while in South Africa.

"Imagine that in my first year at Sundowns, I played very well there at a high level, I was a league champion, but I wasn’t considered for the national team," added.

"It is rather strange that South African football is not seen here. For me, it is a very good football league with a lot of intelligence and intensity.''

Allende has earned 12 caps for the Chilean under-20 team and served as the captain of the team captain in 2019. Moreover, he earned five caps for the under-17 team.

The diminutive midfielder has b ecome a key player for Sundowns since joining the team in 2022, clinching two PSL titles and the African Football League trophy.

Allende had envisioned that his performances for the Tshwane giants would earn him recognition in his homeland, however, this has not yet come to fruition.

Allende will be eager to be chosen by Gareca to participate in South America's 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March next year.

For now, he aims to help Sundowns in their quest for the Carling Knockout glory as they face Magesi FC in the final on Saturday.