Fiorentina Show Gesture of Faith in David De Gea After Naming Him the New Club Captain
David De Gea has been named the new Fiorentina captain, as manager Paolo Vanoli seeks to restore the balance in an unsettled dressing room.
Charlie Rhodes
Updated on 24 December 2025
Paolo Vanoli has sought to relieve some of the pressure shouldered by Luca Ranieri, naming David De Gea as the new Fiorentina captain.
De Gea, similar to the rest of the squad, has endured a tumultuous season and a barrage of criticism amid Fiorentina’s disastrous campaign.
The Spaniard is often the last vestige of a defense that has routinely conceded this season, allowing a league-high 27 goals in 16 matches.
His performances have not fared any better than the backline in front of him, however, with the 35-year-old at fault for goals in defeats to Hellas Verona and Juventus, as well as dropped points in draws against Cagliari and Genoa.
According to Firenzeviola, De Gea has cost Fiorentina eight points across the season so far.
Despite his spotty form, the club have shown their confidence in the veteran by handing him the captaincy.
David De Gea Named New Fiorentina Captain
Ahead of last week’s first win of the season against Udinese – which means they are no longer on course for Serie A’s lowest points tally – the club communicated that De Gea would take over the captaincy from Luca Ranieri.
The now-former captain is said to have accepted the decision without issue, with the boyhood Fiorentina man feeling the weight of the club’s poor form more than most.
Not only is the decision viewed as a dressing room reset, but it’s also a gesture to show the club’s faith in De Gea.
As one of La Viola’s standout performers in recent seasons, and also their most experienced player, they were eager to rubbish suggestions that De Gea could leave Fiorentina.
Taking over the armband signals just how important his leadership qualities are, at a time when Fiorentina remain under threat of relegation, despite a resounding win against Udinese last time out.
What Does This Mean For Former Captain Luca Ranieri?
Paulo Vanoli communicated directly with Luca Ranieri that the decision in no way reflected poorly on him, nor was it meant as a punishment.
As an academy product, who first broke into the team in 2018, his journey has been far from smooth sailing after four separate loan moves.
Now a fully-fledged fan-favorite, he embodies Fiorentina on the pitch. His determination to become La Viola’s commander-in-chief even earned him a prestigious Nereo Rocco award in the emerging personalities category in 2025.
What this latest chapter means for Ranieri up for debate, but the club have made it clear that the 26-year-old remains part of the leadership core, even if he is no longer captain.
De Gea is perhaps better equipped to deal with the scrutiny that Fiorentina find themselves under, which may help to liberate Ranieri from constant press duties, thus helping to push his performances forward on the pitch.
Sporting director Roberto Goretti warned that “strong decisions” would need to be taken in order for Fiorentina to improve their form of late, and Ranieri’s removal as captain likely falls under this category.
Charlie Rhodes
Charlie has built a deep portfolio across a wealth of sports websites, with a heavy focus on Europe's top five leagues. He has a long-standing interest in Serie A having grown up watching Football Italia on Channel 4 as a child. With extensive experience tailored towards news, long-form content and heavily researched features, Charlie has also garnered experience in several roles in the fintech and marketing sector.
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