He played 129 Primeira Liga matches over seven seasons, totalling 13 goals for Alverca, Estrela da Amadora, Benfica, Marítimo and Vitória de Setúbal.

He was immediately loaned after arriving, serving stints in Italian clubs Modena FC and AC Carpenedolo to gain experience, and returned to Portugal in the 2005–06 campaign for another temporary spell with C.F.

Estrela da Amadora, where he played in 31 league games and scored seven goals, contributing to the preservation of the side's Primeira Liga status.

Manú was given a new four-year deal in June 2006, and made his official debut for Benfica by playing in both legs of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round win over FK Austria Wien,[2][3] also making a substitute appearance for them in the group stage against F.C.

[9] On 3 May of the following year, he scored the equalising goal in the season's Polish Cup final against Lech Poznań, which secured his team extra time and then a penalty shootout, in an eventual 5–4 win for the 14th conquest in the competition in the club's history.