In 2007, Fábio returned to Brazil to play for Cruzeiro, but failed to gain a spot in first team and was released in May.

With Roberto Carlos's departure to Russian football, on early of 2011, Santos gained the position, becoming a key player in subsequent tournaments.

On 18 June 2015, it was announced that Fábio Santos reached a deal with Mexican club Cruz Azul.

After Cruz Azul failed to qualify for the playoffs for the Clausura 2016 in the Liga MX, him along with other leftback Fausto Pinto, were told they were not going to continue to the next season.

[5] Later that year, he received the Bola de Prata award as the best left back of the 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.