Grêmio's gamble on Viery yields €15m deal with Fiorentina

Twenty‑one‑year‑old centre‑back Viery has moved from being deemed expendable at Grêmio to a €15 million transfer to Fiorentina, with the deal valued at roughly R$100 million after just six months of regular first‑team action. The Brazilian defender, who turned a corner in early 2026, secured a starting spot and attracted interest from abroad.

At the close of the 2025 season, Viery was listed among players to be released by Grêmio. He made only 12 appearances that year, frequently deployed at left‑back, and the club turned down an offer from Al Sharjah while also blocking a third‑tier European approach.

The arrival of coach Luís Castro in early 2026 changed Viery's fortunes, as the manager quickly convinced the board of his monetary potential. Castro’s assessment prompted a shift in the club’s football department.

Vice president of football Antônio Dutra Junior and executive Paulo Pelaipe acted on the coach’s recommendation, extending Viery’s contract to the end of 2029 and raising his salary to R$80,000 per month. The previous deal had been set to run until mid‑2027. During the same period, Botafogo’s loan request was rejected by Pelaipe.

With the renewed contract, Viery returned to his natural centre‑back role and partnered with fellow academy graduate Gustavo Martins. The duo anchored the defence that captured the Gauchão title. Viery logged 27 matches, contributed two goals and one assist in 2026, bringing his total senior appearances for Grêmio to 39.

Grêmio completed Viery’s transfer to Fiorentina for a fixed €15 million, roughly R$88.5 million, plus €2 million in performance bonuses, about R$11.8 million. The Brazilian club retained 100 % of the fee and secured a future sell‑on clause.

The transaction allowed Grêmio to meet its annual budget target. It stands as one of the season’s most significant outgoing deals for the Rio Grande do Sul side.