Michael Santos (footballer)


Michael Nicolás Santos Rosadilla is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as a forward for Danish club F.C. Copenhagen.

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, 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.

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

Honours

River Plate
Uruguay U23