A thin absorbent composite is provided wherein a nonwoven support sheet is hydro-entangled with a carded fiber web to provide a nonwoven substrate. The nonwoven substrate is coated with an absorbent layer comprising microfibrillated cellulose-coated superabsorbent polymer particles. A cover layer is placed above the absorbent layer to provide the absorbent composite. A process for manufacturing the absorbent composite and an absorbent article containing the absorbent composite are also provided.
