Manchester City may not have him at the Etihad, but one of their group's prospects is starting to make noise in Portugal.
20-year-old Spanish winger Alvaro Santos is currently impressing at FC Penafiel in the country's second division – Liga Portugal 2. According to Portuguese newspaper to ballHe has become one of the faces of the club's recent improvement.
Santos completed his development at Celta Vigo before moving to Belgium. There, he spent two seasons with Lommel SK – a club owned by City Football Group.
That detail matters. His move was not random scouting. This was part of the wider Manchester City Network strategy. The English champion group recognized 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, reports about their potential were so strong that they remained within the CFG pathway.
This season, Penafiel secured him on loan to the Belgian side. This arrangement allows Manchester City to closely monitor his development while still giving the group regular senior football.
Performances are getting better
So far in 2025–26, Alvaro Santos has played 19 league matches, starting 18 of them. He has scored three goals and added two assists while playing over 1,500 minutes in Liga Portugal 2.
Primarily a natural winger, he is comfortable on both flanks. Still, observers say he looks most dangerous when starting on the left. From there, he attacks defenders directly, combining close control with pace.
The important thing is that he does not hesitate to take on his opponents. He can cut inside to shoot or drive to the byline to create. Additionally, he has shown the ability to operate as a second striker or in the pocket behind the centre-forward.
There are areas to refine. His off-the-ball intensity and defensive contributions could improve. Yet at just 20 years old, there is clearly room for growth.
What this means for Manchester City's group
For Manchester City and City Football Group, this is exactly how the model is meant to work.
Young talents are identified early, placed in a development environment like Lommel, and then strategically moved up the league where they can gain minutes and responsibility.
If Santos continues this upward trend in Portugal, the next step could be another loan at a higher level – or even an integration into the more competitive CFG environment.
As of now, reports from Portugal remain positive. And in the Manchester City offices, Alvaro Santos' files are likely to become increasingly detailed.
