Davide Santon

Davide Santon (born 2 January 1991) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a left wing-back.

After helping the Inter Milan under-20 side win the 2006–07 Campionato Nazionale Primavera and reaching the final play-off for a second consecutive season, he was called up to join the first team for the 2008–09 pre-season training in South Tyrol and training sessions during the first half of the season.

José Mourinho first named Santon in the line up for a September Champions League match against Panathinaikos and the next three games, but did not use him.

A former Inter Milan youth product, Santon began his professional club career with Inter in 2008, and remained with the club until 2011, aside from a spell on loan with Cesena.

At international level, Santon made his senior debut with Italy in 2009, represented his nation at the FIFA Confederations Cup later that year, and earned 8 caps in total.

At the age of 14, Santon joined Inter Milan's youth system from Ravenna.

He started out as a winger before moving into a defensive role.

On 21 January 2009, Santon made his debut in the Coppa Italia quarter-final win against Roma, playing the entire match.

Four days later, he made his Serie A debut in a 1–0 victory against Sampdoria.

He made his European debut in the home draw against Manchester United, tasked with marking Cristiano Ronaldo.

Santon garnered praise for his performance prompting Ronaldo to comment, "I was impressed by Santon, he is a really interesting lad and a great footballer."

Mourinho praised Santon for his personality and tactical versatility and Santon was handed the starting role for the next game.

He started 13 league games and made two substitute appearances, thus winning his first senior honour, the Serie A title.

Santon had also become subject of praise by former Italy national team head coach Marcello Lippi in 2009, who described Santon as, "A predestined player that reminds him of a young Paolo Maldini."

Santon made his first appearance for Inter in the 2009–10 season against Parma in the third game of the season, and subsequently started the game against Cagliari the following week.

He was out until the New Year after sustaining a right knee lateral meniscus injury while on international duty.

He made his return in January as a substitute against Bari and was called back into the starting eleven to replace the injured Cristian Chivu.

However, his return was short-lived as he injured the same knee again after returning too soon from the previous injury and required surgery, thus sidelining him for another three to five weeks.

During the 2010–11 season, Santon first served as an understudy of Cristian Chivu, but after Maicon's injury (and a later injury to Chivu), Santon returned to the starting line-up in November (save for the Derby della Madonnina against Milan and matchday 5 of the Champions League).

He then played twice as a right wing-forward due to the injury crisis at Inter, the first one in a 5–2 win against Parma.

In that match, manager Rafael Benítez preferred Iván Córdoba and Javier Zanetti in both full back positions, as well as for the Champions League against Twente.

On 31 January 2011, the final day of the transfer window, Santon was sent out on loan to Cesena as part of the deal that saw Yuto Nagatomo join Inter in exchange.

Santon returned to Inter in the summer.

Under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Santon often played as a wing-back in their 3–4–3 formation in the friendlies.

Near the end of the summer transfer window, however, the club kept Davide Faraoni as backup wing-back and sold Santon.

On 30 August 2011, Santon signed for Premier League club Newcastle United on a five-year contract, for an undisclosed fee; according to Inter, Santon was sold for €4 million.

On 16 October, he made his debut for Newcastle as a second-half substitute against Tottenham Hotspur.

He went on to make his first start for the club in December away to Norwich City, before making his full home debut the next week against Swansea City.

On 2 May 2012, Santon assisted Papiss Cissé's first goal in a 2–0 win over Chelsea.

In the 2012–13 season, Santon became a regular in the starting line-up.

He provided three assists to his teammates during the season: two against Chelsea for Jonás Gutiérrez and Moussa Sissoko, and one against Wigan Athletic for Demba Ba, as well as causing an own goal to be scored by Southampton's Jos Hooiveld.

On 17 March 2013, Santon scored his first and only goal for Newcastle (as well as his only goal of his professional career) in a 2–1 defeat to Wigan.

On 4 April, in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Benfica, Santon's misplaced backpass allowed Lima to round Tim Krul and score from a tight angle.

Afterwards, he was photographed apologising to the club's travelling support by holding his hands up, which would become the defining image of his Newcastle career.

Three days later, Santon came off early in the first half with a hamstring injury against Fulham.

He later had a four-year spell with English club Newcastle United, before returning to Inter in 2015.

After three seasons, he signed with Roma.

After emerging through the youth ranks at Inter Milan, Santon was considered among the most promising young fullbacks in world football.

However, persistent injury problems hindered his progress and number of appearances.

In 2022, Santon announced his retirement at the age of 31, citing injury problems.