Manuel Sánchez de la Peña

Manu Sánchez, whose full name is Manuel Sánchez de la Peña, is a Spanish left-back born in Madrid on 24 August 2000. He began in the youth ranks of Cornellà before joining Atlético Madrid’s academy in 2014. Sánchez made his senior debut for Atlético Madrid B in March 2019, then appeared for the first team in December that year, starting a 2–0 win over Osasuna. He spent three consecutive loan seasons with Osasuna from 2021 to 2023, developing into a regular La Liga defender and helping the club reach the 2023 Copa del Rey final. In July 2023, Sánchez moved permanently to Celta Vigo in a deal involving Javi Galán’s transfer to Atlético Madrid. He subsequently spent the 2024–25 season on loan at Alavés and joined Levante on loan for 2025–26. Primarily a full-back, Manu Sánchez can also operate as a wing-back, combining wide running and delivery with active tackling and positional work.