Manchester City may not have him at the Etihad, but one of their group prospects is starting to make noise in Portugal.
Álvaro Santos, a 20-year-old Spanish winger, is currently impressing at FC Penafiel in Liga Portugal 2 – the country’s second division. According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, he has become one of the faces of the club’s recent upturn in form.
Santos completed his development at Celta Vigo before moving to Belgium. There, he spent two seasons with Lommel SK – a club owned by the City Football Group.
That detail matters. His move was not random scouting. It was part of the wider Manchester City network strategy. The English champions’ group identified him early and brought him into their structure.
At Lommel, he made 43 appearances, scoring three goals and adding one assist. The numbers were modest. However, the reports around his potential were strong enough for him to remain within the CFG pathway.
This season, Penafiel secured him on loan from the Belgian side. The arrangement allows Manchester City’s group to monitor his development closely while giving him regular senior football.
Performances starting to stand out
So far in 2025-26, Álvaro Santos has played 19 league matches, starting 18 of them. He has scored three goals and added two assists in Liga Portugal 2, logging over 1,500 minutes.
Primarily a natural winger, he is comfortable on either flank. Still, observers note he looks most dangerous when starting from the left. From there, he attacks defenders directly, combining pace with close control.
Importantly, he does not hesitate to take on opponents. He can cut inside to shoot or drive to the byline to create. In addition, he has shown the ability to operate as a second striker or in the pocket behind a centre-forward.
There are areas to refine. His off-the-ball intensity and defensive contribution can improve. Yet at just 20, there is clear room for growth.
What this means for Manchester City’s group
For Manchester City and the City Football Group, this is exactly how the model is meant to work.
Young talent is identified early, placed in a development environment like Lommel, and then moved strategically to leagues where they can gain minutes and responsibility.
If Santos continues this upward curve in Portugal, the next step could be another loan at a higher level – or even integration into a more competitive CFG environment.
For now, the reports from Portugal remain positive. And in Manchester City’s offices, the files on Álvaro Santos are likely becoming increasingly detailed.