Allen Obando

Club career Early career While living in the La Victoria neighbourhood, close to Esmeraldas, Obando began playing football with Tolita Sport at the age of five. He progressed well through the club's academy, establishing himself as a prolific goal-scorer, with then-manager Jorge Célico later stating that he was a player with "an impressive, promising future". Later in the same year, journalist César Luis Merlo claimed that the group had launched a formal bid for Obando. Despite the interest, he remained with Barcelona, and made his next appearance for the club in a 1–1 draw with Independiente del Valle on 19 August, with Obando stating after the match that, despite "all the talk about [his] value, [he was] taking it easy and continuing to work because [he is] in Barcelona."

In late September 2023, Carlos Alfaro Moreno, now president of Barcelona, stated that proposals had been exchanged between the club and an unnamed contact in European football. It was reported that the City Football Group were still interested in Obando, while German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund were now also being touted as suitors.

Obando made his debut for the senior Ecuador national team on 22 March 2024 in a friendly against Guatemala.

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