Moise Kean gave Inter an early warning sign that he was in the mood.

The game was just 20 minutes old when the Fiorentina striker seized the ball just inside the Nerazzurri half, took several touches and slid a through ball into the path of the rampaging Dodo on the right-hand side.

The Brazilian full-back raced through on goal but dragged his shot just wide of the post. Yet it was a telltale sign of what was to come for the reigning champions. If Dodo couldn’t finish the chances, Kean would.

Yet before the Italian could find the back of the net in the game rearranged due to Edoardo Bove’s collapse in early December, Luca Ranieri struck for the home side in the second half.

Ranieri met Rolando Mandragora’s corner with a low, first-time volley that slid beautifully into the bottom corner of Yann Sommer’s goal. It was Ranieri’s first goal of the season, and the Viola skipper produced a finish even Kean would’ve been proud of.

Nine minutes later, Kean took centre stage. Amir Richardson won possession of the ball in central midfield and passed it to Dodo down the right. The Brazilian, as he has done all season, produced a brilliant cross for Kean, who’d pulled away from Yann Bisseck in the penalty box.

Dodo’s cross was perfect, and Kean’s header was just as good. The striker kept his effort low and hard, finding the same bottom corner Ranieri did. Off came the purple shirt as he ran away in celebration, displaying his toned physique for the world to see.

Two minutes from the end he showed razor sharp reactions, as Federico Dimarco’s uncharacteristically sloppy backpass was intercepted by Kean.

As Sommer ran out of his goal to try and reach the ball first, Kean beat the Swiss keeper to it and slotted the ball into an empty net from 25 yards out.

The shirt stayed on this time, instead running over to the Curva Fiesole to bask in celebration with Fiorentina fans.

It was a victory that could have huge ramifications for Inter in the title race. They’re now level in games with Napoli but remain three points behind Antonio Conte’s table toppers. The showdown between the two sides on March 2 could very well be a title decider.

As for Kean, it was his 15th goal of the season and it moves the striker second in the race for the Capocanoniere, just one behind Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui.

Kean’s now enjoying the most productive season of his career, surpassing his previous best when he spent a year on loan at Paris Saint-Germain.

13 goals in 26 games in Ligue 1 represented the best in his nomadic career, but the move to Florence has brought out the best in the 24-year-old. 

With his old club Juventus struggling to score goals this season, there is a pang of regret of what could’ve been with Kean and the club that brought him through their youth academy.

“Someone is missing me? I don’t know, I’m here and doing well,” said Kean when asked about his old side. Kean’s 15 goals for La Viola is more than Dusan Vlahovic, Kenan Yildiz, Nico Gonzalez and Teun Koopmeiners combined.

Yet it was clear the player needed a fresh start after stagnating in Turin. Zero goals in 19 games last season epitomised a striker in need of new surroundings. 

Newly-installed Fiorentina boss Raffaele Palladino was pivotal in bringing Kean to the club, and the striker is repaying his faith in the game’s biggest currency – goals.

“I’d wanted him already at Monza,” said Palladino after the Verona game in November in which Kean scored a hat-trick. “He has everything to be a top striker and is working well.”

Kean’s goals have fired Fiorentina back into the top four, and Palladino’s side are now just five points behind Atalanta in third.

“Up front we have a monster in Kean,” said Dodo after the game. The pair made a bet at the start of the season in which Kean asked the Brazilian to provide eight assists. If he does, the Italian will pay for his family holiday next summer, with the Maldives or New York the two options.

However, due to Kean’s several missed chances already supplied by Dodo during the campaign, the number has been reduced to five. “After today I have four more to go,” he laughed.

A family holiday would be costly, yet if he continues to score goals and win Fiorentina games, Kean will hardly care.

A striker now brimming with confidence in a side playing to his strengths, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kean being linked with a move away. La Gazzetta dello Sport report there’s a €52m release clause in his contract next summer. 

Yet as Kean no doubt already knows, moving again would be detrimental to his career. Staying in Florence and playing under Palladino is the best career choice he could make. Moreover, with the club signing Kean’s old Juve teammate Nicolo Fagioli, there’s an extra reason to hang around.

And if Dodo remains at the Franchi with him, he could be paying the Brazilian’s family holidays for the next few years.