From expendable to million-pound sale! Viery's Grêmio turnaround

From expendable to million-pound sale! Viery's Grêmio turnaroundIn 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.

>📉 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:

>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 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:

>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.