He would be an instrumental attacking unit from the beginning, helping to promotion from the second division into the Primeira Liga at the end of the 2006–07 season by contributing 26 games and five goals.
[1] In 2007–08, Gonçalves scored seven league goals for Leixões – a squad-best – as the team avoided relegation in the last matchday.
[2] On 1 September 2008, the last day of the summer transfer deadline, he signed a four-year contract with La Liga side Racing de Santander for €1 million,[3] being rarely used throughout the campaign.
[4] As the Minho club finished in sixth position he was irregularly used, failing to find the net in 21 competitive matches; he was subsequently released by Racing[5] but stayed in his country, joining S.C. Olhanense.
After one final campaign in the top flight with Vitória de Setúbal, Gonçalves returned to the second tier, where he represented C.D.