In just six months, the career of 21-year-old center-back Viery underwent a radical transformation. The youngster, who was not in Grêmio’s plans at the end of last year, turned things around, earned a starting spot, and has just been sold to Fiorentina of Italy in a deal worth around R$ 100 million.
Below, see how the player went from obscurity to one of Tricolor’s most important transfers of the season.
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📉 Obscurity in 2025
At the end of last season, the situation of the Ubá-born Minas Gerais native seemed settled: he was on the list of players to be let go.
Limited playing time: Viery finished 2025 with only 12 appearances, often being used out of position at left-back.
Rejected offers: In August, the club had turned down an offer from Al Sharjah (United Arab Emirates). Toward the end of the year, the player’s camp also blocked an approach from a European team considered “third-tier,” which stalled his departure.
🔄 The Turning Point in 2026
The turn of the year brought new winds for the center-back developed in Grêmio’s academy, driven by changes in the football department:
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The Coach’s Eye: With the arrival of Luís Castro, it took only a few training sessions for the manager to tell the board that Viery had the potential to bring a good amount of money into the club’s coffers.
Renewal and Increased Value: Trusting the coaching staff’s vision, the new administration — led by vice president of football Antônio Dutra Junior and executive Paulo Pelaipe — renewed the youngster’s contract. The deal, which had been set to run until mid-2027, was extended to the end of 2029, with a salary increase (R$ 80,000 per month).
Focus on Tricolor: During this process, Botafogo tried to sign the player on loan, but the move was promptly rejected by Pelaipe.
⚽ Leading Role on the Field
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With renewed confidence, Viery stopped being used at full-back and established himself in his natural position. He formed the starting center-back partnership that won the Gauchão alongside Gustavo Martins, another academy product.
Up to the break in the calendar for the World Cup, the defender had put up impressive numbers in 2026:
27 matches played.
2 goals scored.
1 assist.
Adding up his entire senior career, he leaves the Rio Grande do Sul club with 39 appearances.
💰 Details of the Transfer to Fiorentina
Viery’s sale was excellent business for Grêmio, which hit its budget target for the year with the deal. The figures agreed with the Italian club were:
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Fixed amount: 15 million euros (around R$ 88.5 million).
Performance bonuses: 2 million euros (around R$ 11.8 million).
Grêmio will keep 100% of the transfer fee and also secured a sell-on percentage to profit from any future sale of the player in Europe.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
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