Born in Setúbal, Manú started his professional career in the 2001–02 season playing for F.C. Alverca, before signing for S.L. Benfica in 2004 on a four-year contract. 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.
Thanks to his time in Italy, Manú attracted interest from the likes of Udinese Calcio and Parma FC in summer 2007. Finally, Greek team AEK Athens F.C. managed to sign him on a one-year loan,[5] after which he returned to Lisbon, being immediately sold to C.S. Marítimo.[6]
Manú scored his first goal for the Madeirans on 7 October 2008, in the 2–0 away victory over Vitória de Setúbal.[7] In his second year he appeared even more as a starter, as the side qualified for the UEFA Europa League as fifth. On 1 November 2009, he netted from 30 meters to put Marítimo ahead at Sporting CP in a 1–1 draw.[8]
On 9 June 2010, Manú agreed to a three-year deal with Legia Warsaw in Poland.[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.[10]
On 9 December 2011, Manú signed a "1+1" contract with Beijing Guoan F.C. in China, effective as of January of the following year.[11]