From surplus to a million-pound sale! The Viery U-turn at Grêmio | OneFootball

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, became a starter, 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, according to ge.

📉 Obscurity in 2025

At the end of last season, the situation of the player from Ubá, Minas Gerais, seemed settled: he was on the list of players to be let go.

Limited playing time: Viery ended 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). In the final stretch of the year, the player’s camp also blocked an approach from a European team considered to be “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:

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

With renewed confidence, Viery stopped being used out of position at full-back and established himself in his natural role. He formed the starting center-back pairing that won the Gauchão alongside Gustavo Martins, another academy product.

Up to the break in the schedule for the World Cup, the center-back had put up impressive numbers in 2026:

27 matches played.

2 goals scored.

1 assist.

Adding up his entire time with the senior team, he leaves the club from Rio Grande do Sul with 39 appearances.

💰 Details of the Transfer to Fiorentina

Viery’s sale was an excellent deal for Grêmio, which reached its budget target for the year with the transfer. The amounts agreed with the Italian club were:

Fixed fee: 15 million euros (about R$88.5 million).

Performance bonuses: 2 million euros (about 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.

📸 SILVIO AVILA - AFP or licensors