Fiorentina sideline Dodô as contract impasse looms in Italy

Fiorentina have excluded Brazilian right‑back Dodô from the squad for Friday's Serie A meeting with Venezia, a match that ended 4‑2 to the visitors. The transfer window has already closed, leaving the 27‑year‑old's future undecided until the market reopens in January. The club’s decision adds another chapter to a saga that began earlier this season.

Fiorentina’s troubled start prompts coaching change

Fiorentina began the campaign poorly, losing three of their opening league games and sitting at the bottom of the Serie A table until their first win. The string of defeats led to the dismissal of head coach Fábio Grosso and the appointment of Paolo Vanoli. Vanoli, tasked with rescuing the club, was the one who ordered Dodô’s exclusion.

Contract impasse drives exclusion

According to journalist Flavio Ognissanti, Dodô’s contract expires in the middle of next year and renewal talks have stalled. With no progress, the player could sign a pre‑contract in January and depart on a free transfer months later. The club’s directors Roberto Goretti and Fabio Paratici have been trying to renegotiate the deal since May 2024 without success.

Dodô featured as a starter only in the season‑opening 4‑0 defeat to Roma and later came off the bench at half‑time in the Coppa Italia win over Benevento. Last season he was a mainstay, starting 36 of 38 league matches under Vanoli’s guidance.

Interest and renewal talks stall

During the last transfer window, Roma and Napoli explored the possibility of signing Dodô, while Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos made inquiries that did not materialise. Fiorentina’s attempts to extend his contract to 2030 with a salary increase have repeatedly failed, leaving the player on a short‑term deal.

The defender was discovered by Coritiba, later moving to Shakhtar Donetsk and Vitória de Guimarães before joining Fiorentina in 2022. Since his arrival he has been praised for his physicality and attacking support, becoming one of Italy’s prominent right‑backs.

In November 2024 Dodô earned his first call‑up to the Brazil national team under coach Dorival Júnior, a milestone that highlighted his rising profile. Despite the honour, his club situation remains uncertain.

If the sidelining becomes permanent, Dodô will only be able to leave Fiorentina in January, when European and Brazilian clubs can compete for his signature on a free transfer.