Santon joined Internazionale's youth system at age 14 from Ravenna. He started out as a winger before moving into a defensive role. After helping the Primavera side win the 2006–07 Campionato Primavera and reaching the final play-off for a second consecutive season, he was called-up to join the first team for the 2008–09 pre-season training in South Tyrol and training sessions during the first half of the season.
José Mourinho first named Santon in the line up for a September Champions League game against Panathinaikos and the next three games but did not use him. On 21 January 2009, Santon made his debut in the Coppa Italia quarterfinal win against Roma, playing the entire match. Four days later, he made his Serie A debut in a 1–0 victory against Sampdoria. He made his European debut in the home draw with Manchester United, playing directly against Cristiano Ronaldo and showing great performances against the Portuguese winger. Ronaldo himself said about Santon: "I was impressed by Santon; he is a really interesting lad and a great footballer." Mourinho praised Santon for his personality and tactical versatility and Santon was handed the starting role for the next game. He started 13 league games, making 2 substitute appearances, thus winning his first senior honour, the 2008–09 Serie A title.
Recently, he has also become subject of praise from former Italy head coach Marcello Lippi, who described Santon as "A predestined that reminds of a young Paolo Maldini."
Santon made his first appearance for Inter in the 2009–10 season against Parma on Matchday 3, and subsequently started the game against Cagliari the week after. He was out until the new year after sustaining a knee meniscus injury while on international duty. He made his return in January as a substitute against Bari and called back into the starting eleven for the injured Cristian Chivu. However, his return was short-lived as he injured the same knee again after returning too soon from the previous injury and required surgery, thus sidelining him for another three to five weeks.
In 2010-11 season, as first Santon was a understudy of Chivu, but after Maicon's injury (and later Chivu), Santon returned to starting line-up in November (except the Milan derby and UCL matchday 5). He then played twice as right wing-forward due to the injury crisis of Inter, which the first one is a 5–2 win against Parma; that match the coach preferred Cordoba and Zanetti on both flank of defensive line, which also used in UCL against Twente. Having been told he can leave the club, english side Liverpool FC are currently discussing a move for Santon.
Santon has played for Italy since the U-16 level and made a goal-scoring debut on April 2007 in a 3–1 win over Slovenia. On 31 March 2009, he made his debut for the Italy U-21 squad in a friendly against the Netherlands, played at Parkstad Limburg Stadion, Kerkrade and ended in a 1–1 draw.
Santon made his debut with the senior Italian team aged 18, on 6 June 2009 in a friendly game against Northern Ireland played in Pisa. He played the whole match and his solid performances earned him praise from his peers as well as coach Marcello Lippi. Lippi was impressed enough to name him in the roster for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, but Santon did not manage to make an appearance in the tournament.
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