Gonzalo Higuaín
For the 2005–06 season, Santana joined Argentine River Plate, reaching the quarter-final stages of the Copa Libertadores. Santana formed part of a high profile team that included Juan Pablo Carrizo, German Lux, Diego Buonanotte, Marcelo Gallardo, Daniel Montenegro, Oscar Ahumada, Matias Abelairas, Luciano Figueroa, Gaston Fernandez, Gonzalo Higuaín, Colombian striker Radamel Falcao and future Paraguay national team colleague Julio Cesar Caceres.