Kean's message was unmistakable: the 26-year-old wants to leave Florence to join Cesc Fàbregas's Como, and made his frustration known by skipping the morning session with his teammates.
Fiorentina responded immediately, fining him and recalling him for an individual training session that same afternoon, which Kean attended to avoid a second sanction. The club made clear any repeat of the morning's stand-off would result in a further fine, with the situation set to continue on a day-by-day basis until it is resolved.
Fiorentina's position has not shifted: they will only sanction a sale once they have identified a replacement of equal or greater quality, regardless of the pressure applied by the player or Como's improved offer.
That search for cover has already begun. According to journalist Matteo Moretto, sporting director Fabio Paratici has explored the availability of Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee, contacting his agent Kia Joorabchian to gauge both the feasibility of a deal and the cost of extracting him from Old Trafford.
The move remains one to watch rather than an advanced negotiation, but it signals how seriously Fiorentina are approaching the need to cover Kean's position before sanctioning his departure. Everton's Beto has also been mentioned as an alternative option under consideration, alongside Juventus's Jonathan David, as the club works through the closing days of the window with the dual task of managing an unhappy star striker and lining up his eventual replacement.
Kean has been one of Fiorentina's most important players over the past year, and the club's stance reflects that value: sources close to the situation say Fiorentina would rather keep him out of the matchday squad entirely, without playing him, than sanction a sale at a discount or without a like-for-like replacement lined up.
Kean is due to report for training again on Thursday under head coach Fabio Grosso, with his participation expected to hinge on how the situation with Como develops in the coming hours.