Mamelodi Sundowns took many by surprise when they announced the aquisition of Chilean midfielder Marcelo Allende, but it has now been revealed how a 15-minute meeting helped to secure the $3 million deal.
Allende, 24, had many clubs interested in his services after previously trailing at Premier League side Arsenal but eventually joined Sundowns from Montevideo City Torque in September 2022 – in a deal worth a reported R51-million, according to reports in local media.
Cristiano Ogalde, the owner and president of CD Magallanes – Allende’s club before Montevideo, explained how he met with Mamelodi Sundowns Sporting Director Flemming Berg at the TransferRoom Summit to initiate the sale from Montevideo City Torque, because his own club were still having a sell-on percentage.
“The timing was right with the TransferRoom Summit in Madrid to sit down with clubs and discuss talents. When I met with Mamelodi Sundowns, they told me what they were looking for and I presented the profile of Marcelo Allende,” he told TransferRoom.
“Two days later, they already had all the information about the player and they had verified everything I told them about him.
“I believe it was an amazing opportunity for Sundowns and ourselves to meet and this was thanks to the TransferRoom Summit. At the TransferRoom Summit, various clubs told us what they are looking for, how they are looking and how they take recruitment decisions.
“TransferRoom has a great added value for us. It gives huge value to how much your time is worth, as a country which is far away, to look for opportunities on the transfer market.”
At the TransferRoom Summit, representatives from clubs from around the world meet each other in a speed-dating like format to discuss potential transfer deals and players for 15 minutes before moving onto the next delegate.
While the initial meeting between Berg and Ogalde took just 15 minutes, the $3 million deal of Allende was completed within 15 days, with Sundowns acquiring 80% of the rights for the attacking midfielder, according to TransferRoom.
Sundowns and Allende have not looked back on the transfer, as the Chilean midfielder has become one of the first names on Rulani Mokwena’s teamsheets, making 64 appearances during which he scored seven goals and set up seven more.
