Michael Santos (footballer)

Michael Santos

Santos with Uruguay in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Michael Nicolás Santos Rosadilla
Date of birth	13 March 1993
Place of birth	Montevideo, Uruguay
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	FC Juárez
Number	9
Youth career
1998–2002	Wanderers de Pando
2002–2004	Nacional de Pando
2004–2006	San Luis de Pando
2006–2008	Montevideo Wanderers
2008–2011	River Plate Montevideo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2016	River Plate Montevideo	91	(41)
2016–2019	Málaga	14	(3)
2017–2018	→ Sporting Gijón (loan)	36	(17)
2018–2019	→ Leganés (loan)	16	(1)
2019–2021	Copenhagen	23	(7)
2020–2021	→ Leganés (loan)	9	(0)
2021–2023	Talleres	74	(24)
2023–	FC Juárez	0	(0)
International career
2014–2015	Uruguay U22	5	(1)
2015	Uruguay	2	(0)
Medal record Representing Uruguay Men's Football Pan American Games 2015 Toronto Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:18 16 May 2023 (UTC)

Michael Nicolás Santos Rosadilla (born 13 March 1993) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as a forward for Argentine club Talleres de Córdoba.

Club career

River Plate

Born in Montevideo, Santos was a River Plate Montevideo youth graduate. He made his first team – and Primera División – debut on 13 February 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute for Federico Puppo in a 1–2 home loss against Rampla Juniors.

On 28 April 2012, Santos scored his first professional goal, netting the winner in a 2–1 home win against Fénix. Exactly one month later, he was sent off for two bookable offenses in a 2–4 loss at Racing Montevideo.

Santos scored a career-best 21 goals during the 2014–15 season, with braces against Fénix, Sud América (two times), and Juventud Las Piedras, aside from a hat-trick against El Tanque Sisley. He also scored River's first ever goal in the Copa Libertadores, through a penalty in a 2–0 home win against Universidad de Chile.

Málaga

On 5 July 2016, Santos signed a four-year deal with La Liga club Málaga CF. He made his debut for the club on 23 October, replacing Jony in a 4–0 home routing of CD Leganés.

Santos scored his first goal in the Spanish top tier on 4 November 2016, netting the winner in a 3–2 home win against Sporting de Gijón.

Sporting Gijón (loan)

On 14 August 2017, Santos was loaned to Sporting, now in Segunda División, for one year. He scored 17 goals during the campaign, being the club's top goalscorer and the fifth overall in the category.

Leganés (loan)

On 1 August 2018, Santos was loaned to CD Leganés in the top flight, for one year.

FC Copenhagen

On 21 August 2019, Santos was signed by Danish club F.C. Copenhagen for a reported transfer fee of 2.25 million euro.

Return to Leganés (loan)

Santos returned to Lega on 14 September 2020, also in a temporary deal, with the club now in the second division.

Back to Copenhagen

In January 2021 it was reported, that Santos had returned to Copenhagen because he couldn't extend his work permit in Spain. On 31 January 2021 Copenhagen confirmed, that Santos' contract had been terminated by mutual consent.

Talleres

On 6 February 2021, Santos signed a three-year contract with Argentine Primera División side Talleres.

International career

On 17 June 2015, Santos was included in Uruguay under-23s' 18-man list for the year's Pan American Games. He appeared in five matches during the tournament, scoring one goal against Brazil, as his side was crowned champions.

On 29 August 2015, Santos was called up to the senior squad by manager Óscar Tabárez as a replacement to injured Abel Hernández. He made his full international debut on 8 September, replacing Jonathan Rodríguez against Costa Rica.

Career statistics

As of match played 16 December 2019

Honours

Club

River Plate

• Torneo Preparación: 2012
• Copa Integración: 2012

Uruguay U23

• Pan American Games: 2015

Individual

• Argentine Primera División Top scorer: 2023 (shared with Pablo Vegetti)
• Argentine Primera División Team of the Season: 2023