Previously of Sporting CP and Braga, he did not break into the first teams of either club, but did so at Rio Ave, helping them to two domestic cup finals in 2014.

[6] On 3 September 2012, Pinto was loaned to Spanish side Deportivo de La Coruña for one year, without the option to purchase.

He was presented before 200 fans at the Estadio Riazor and joined several compatriots at his new team,[7] making his official debut on 1 November by playing the entirety of a 1–1 home draw with RCD Mallorca in the last-32 stage of the Copa del Rey[8] and also featuring three minutes in place of Juan Domínguez in the goalless second leg four weeks later, with the subsequent elimination on the away goals rule;[9] between those two cup matches he appeared in his only game for them in La Liga, starting and finishing the 5–3 loss at Real Zaragoza.

[10] On 11 January 2013, as he was only third choice at his position behind Ayoze and Evaldo,[7][11] Pinto's loan at Deportivo ended and he moved to Segunda División's Racing de Santander for the remainder of the campaign.

[12] His only goal for the Cantabrians arrived on 23 February, concluding a 2–0 home victory over CD Mirandés,[13] but the club eventually suffered a second consecutive relegation.

He played against the same team in that year's Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, missing in the penalty shootout to hand the opposition the title.