 For the 2006–07 campaign, after having spent one year in the sidelines, de los Santos joined Segunda División side Hércules CF.After two seasons where he was relatively used, he returned to Peñarol on 29 July 2008, retiring from football two years later at the age of 34.A Uruguayan international for nine years, de los Santos was selected for the squad that appeared in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, featuring 20 minutes in the 0–0 group stage draw against France.