Nahuel Bustos


Nahuel Lautaro Bustos is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga DIMAYOR club Santa Fe.

Club career

Early career

Born in Córdoba, Bustos started playing for hometown side CA Huracán at the age of five. He subsequently moved to Argentino Peñarol, and on 24 February 2013, at the age of just 14 years, seven months and 20 days, he made his senior debut for the latter side by coming on as a substitute and scoring the fifth goal in a 7–0 Torneo Argentino C routing of CA Racing de Valle Hermoso.

Talleres

On 5 March 2014, Argentino Peñarol's president Ariel Allende announced that Bustos was sold to a businessman group for a fee of 40,000 pesos, and was assigned to Talleres. On 12 June of the following year, he signed his first professional contract with the club.
After appearing as an unused substitute in April 2016 for Primera B Nacional fixtures against Almagro, Gimnasia y Esgrima and Atlético Paraná, Bustos made his senior debut on 18 June, replacing Nazareno Solís late into a 1–1 away draw against Chacarita Juniors, as his side was already promoted. He made his Primera División debut on 23 April 2017, replacing Jony in a 1–0 home win against Godoy Cruz.
Bustos was part of the club's squad for the 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores in Uruguay, a competition in which Bustos scored four goals in three matches, including a hat-trick against Atlético Venezuela. He only became a regular first team starter in September of that year, under manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda.
Bustos scored his first professional goal on 22 September 2018, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against Vélez Sarsfield. On 7 October, he scored a brace in a 3–0 home defeat of rivals Belgrano, taking his tally up to four goals in four matches. In 2019–20 [Talleres de Córdoba season|2019–20], Bustos scored ten goals in twenty-three appearances in all competitions before the season's curtailment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loan to Pachuca

On 28 December 2018, Talleres announced that Bustos had joined Liga MX side Pachuca on loan, signing for twelve months. He netted his first goal on 8 January 2019 in a Copa MX victory at Atlante. Bustos returned to Talleres on 20 July, having featured a total of eight times for Pachuca.

Manchester City

On 5 October 2020, Talleres reached an agreement with Premier League club Manchester City for the transfer of Bustos.

Loan to Girona

Bustos subsequently joined City Football Group club Girona in the Segunda División for the 2020–2021 season. He debuted in a 1–0 win over Real Oviedo on 18 October, before scoring his first two goals for the club in the Copa del Rey against Tercera División outfit Gimnástica Segoviana on 17 December.

Loan to São Paulo

On 5 August 2022, Bustos joined Série A club São Paulo on loan until June 2023, with the option for an additional year.

Return to Talleres

On 23 December 2022, Bustos returned to Talleres on an initial loan deal for the duration of the 2023 season. Midway through the season, on 30 June 2023, following a successful first half of the loan spell, Bustos was signed by Talleres on a permanent deal until December 2025 for an undisclosed fee.

Loan to San Lorenzo

On 1 August 2024, Bustos was loaned out to fellow Primera División club San Lorenzo for twelve months, with an option for the loan to be terminated. On 28 December, the loan was cancelled and Bustos returned to Talleres.

International career

Bustos was called up to train with the Argentina U20 team ahead of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea, but was cut from the final squad.

Honours

;Argentino Peñarol
;Talleres
;Individual