Alex Santana
# Alex Santana

Alex Paulo Menezes Santana (born 13 May 1995) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Brasileirão Série A club Athletico Paranaense as a midfielder.

Santana began his professional career at Internacional in 2013, spending time on loan at Criciúma, Guarani and Paraná before moving to Botafogo six years later. He joined Athletico in July 2022.

## Career

### Early career

Santana began his professional career at Internacional. He made his debut on 11 October 2013 by replacing Otávio for the final 29 minutes in a 2–1 away loss against Flamengo.

### Ludogorets

On 23 July 2020, Santana signed for Ludogorets Razgrad for a reported fee of €750,000. After signing a contract with the club, he said: "I joined Ludogorets to play in the Champions League.". He scored his debut goal for the Bulgarian champions on 23 August 2020 in a league game against Cherno More Varna. On 14 April 2021, he received his first red card in the 1:2 home loss against CSKA Sofia in a Bulgarian Cup match. During his time with Ludogorets, he established himself as a key member of the team.

## Career statistics

    As of 28 February 2023

| Club | Season | League | League | League | State League | State League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Internacional | 2013 | Série A | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Internacional | 2014 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Internacional | 2015 | Série A | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Internacional | 2017 | Série B | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Internacional | Subtotal | Subtotal | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Criciúma (loan) | 2016 | Série B | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Guarani (loan) | 2016 | Série C | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 1 |
| Paraná (loan) | 2017 | Série B | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| Paraná (loan) | 2018 | Série A | 27 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 4 |
| Paraná (loan) | Subtotal | Subtotal | 28 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 51 | 6 |
| Botafogo | 2019 | Série A | 24 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 42 | 10 |
| Botafogo | 2020 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 |
| Botafogo | Subtotal | Subtotal | 24 | 5 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 53 | 11 |
| Ludogorets | 2020–21 | First League | 23 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 5 |
| Ludogorets | 2021–22 | First League | 20 | 6 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 8 |
| Ludogorets | 2022–23 | First League | 3 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Ludogorets | Subtotal | Subtotal | 46 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 78 | 15 |
| Athletico Paranaense | 2022 | Série A | 13 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 3 |
| Athletico Paranaense | 2023 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 |
| Athletico Paranaense | Subtotal | Subtotal | 13 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 125 | 24 | 53 | 6 | 22 | 2 | 33 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 239 | 36 |

* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Bulgarian Supercup
* ↑ Seven appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores

## Honours

Internacional

* Campeonato Gaúcho: 2013, 2014, 2015

Athletico Paranaense

* Campeonato Paranaense: 2023
