Banco Santander has expressed interest in acquiring Novo Banco, a Portuguese bank, as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in the Portuguese market. Pedro Castro Almeida, head of Santander's operations in Portugal, indicated this potential move during a recent forum. However, financial analysts from Alantra have noted that Santander may not currently have the financial capacity to proceed with the acquisition, despite the strategic sense of such a deal. In related developments, Banco Primus is planning to sell its entire loan portfolio in Spain and is evaluating its future in the Spanish market.