Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Marcelo Allende has been told that his situation is complicated in his bid to return to international football with Chile.
Allende is into his third season at Sundowns and throughout that time has found himself being ignored for selection into the Chilean senior squad regardless of his club form.
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There was hope that after La Roja's poor run at the 2024 Copa America, he would be considered by coach Ricardo Gareca.
However, it has remained the same for the 25-year-old throughout the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers despite Chile winning twice in 12 games.
"It is complicated for Allende," discloses fellow Chilean Jorge 'Kike' Acuna, who spent two years at Sundowns between 2007 and 2009.
'Kike' spoke to KickOff.com on Thursday in a rare interview moments after sunrise in Santiago, Chile.
"What happens is that here they don't know anything about Sundowns, they don't know what Allende is doing.
"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.
"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," says Acuna.
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After captaining Chile at the 2019 South American U20 Championships, Allende was primed for the senior team but has only won a single cap at that level.
His next hope will be to put in a good showing at next year's FIFA Club World Cup, which will attract a global audience and get the Chilean selectors interested.