Why her Vieri‑named legacy drives Viery’s €15 million Fiorentina switch to Serie A

Twenty‑one‑year‑old defender Viery has completed a €15 million transfer from Gremio to Fiorentina, with €2 million in add‑ons, announced at Viola Park today, marking his entry into Serie A and the Italian club’s squad. The 21‑year‑old defender, previously a product of Gremio’s academy, will wear number 33 for the Viola.

Viery chose Fiorentina because he loved the project immediately and found the city beautiful, saying the club’s vision appealed to him. He also highlighted the support of his Brazilian teammate Dodo, who is helping him settle in Italy.

The defender explained that his destiny to play in Serie A was sealed when his father, a huge fan of Italy striker Christian Vieri, named him after the legend. “You pronounce my name without an accent, so like Vieri,” Viery said. “It’s like the Italy striker, because my father was a huge Christian Vieri fan and named me after him.”

Christian Vieri retired in 2009, when Viery was four years old, and his career included spells at Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Inter, Milan and Fiorentina among others.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus player Radu Dragusin, who speaks Portuguese, gave Viery a helpful hand, easing his adaptation to Italy.

Viery started his career as a full‑back before moving into central defence and says the most important thing is to play, regardless of position. He cites Sergio Ramos as an inspiration and notes that Dunga, a legend for Brazil and Fiorentina, expects a lot from him.

For Fiorentina, signing Viery adds a DE‑standard defender ready for Serie A challenges, while the 21‑year‑old gains the platform to fulfil the Vieri‑named legacy that guided his €15 million move.