Career
He began his career at hometown Deportivo Roca in 2004. After his spells at Cipolletti, Aldosivi and Guillermo Brown, in 2007 he joined Chilean outfit Deportes Louisiana Serena. In January 2010 the Argentinian club River Plate signed the striker from Unión Española on a 70% to 30% joint ownership deal for around $1 million until 2013.
After a poor season with los millonarios, Canales returned to Chile to play for Unión Española.
Canales joined Chinese Super League side Dalian Aerbin on 11 February 2012 for a fee of United States$2.6 million and signing a three-year deal. Canales scored four goals in his first five league games with Dalian Aerbin.
In 2013 Canales was suspended for 3 months after he failed a drug test. On 3 November 2011, was reported that Chilean national team coach Claudio Borghi dispensed with Mauricio Pinilla due to knee injury, so he called Canales to play the 2014 World Cup qualification games with Uruguay and Paraguay amid a difficult environment that lived the team marked by showbiz scandals.
He internationally debuted on 11 November during the Uruguayan 4–0 thrash over Chile coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute.
In 2014, received a call up from now manager Jorge Sampaoli (who coached him at Universidad de Chile) to play against Costa Rica at Coquimbo on 22 January, related to final nominees preparation to 23-man World Cup squad. However it was reported on 18 January that he would missed the game due to injury. Months later Canales was considered in the 30-provisional man squad because his good shape shown at Unión Española despite missing the previous friendly matches.
