Is Antonio Nocerino Off To MLS And D.C. United?

Two days ago Adriano Galliani was asked about the future of Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino. The midfielder has hardly featured this season after repeated and mostly unproductive loan spells over the last two seasons. What his next step is has been a matter of some debate among AC Milan fans, because it's clear that the 30 year old's future is not at the San Siro.

Galliani told the media that Nocerino is "the only player heading out, we’re expecting an offer from MLS to arrive and that could be a solution." The comment sounds a little vague and hopeful, but reports coming out since Galliani made that comment indicate there may be something concrete behind his words.

Nocerino returned to the Rossoneri this summer after completing loan spells with West Ham United, Torino, and Parma. Once returning to Milan he quickly learned he was not included in Sinisa Mihajlovic’s future plans. After making just one appearance in the Coppa Italia and three in the Serie A, Nocerino has been yearning for something new. He was linked to Major League Soccer side D.C. United immediately after Galliani’s comments, but all the details surrounding this potential transfer seem misleading.

D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper and the club's managing general owner Jason Levien flew to Italy earlier in the week. The trip was not for Nocerino, though -- the pair regularly travel to Italy since the largest investor in DC United is also Inter Milan's largest shareholder, Erick Thohir. Interestingly enough this trip to Italy was planned several months ago and now that these individuals are traveling, they apparently decided that they might as well to try whip up a deal with the player.

Even more interesting is that DC United had not previously been interested Nocerino, or at least there had been no indications of interest. Galliani had been attempting to sell him to a MLS club for quite some time and it seems that eventually Galliani and D.C. United found one another. Thohir and Levien are also expected to visit Greece, England, and France in order to scout about a half-dozen candidates. For these reasons, the deal between DC United and Nocerino still looks pretty far off, so competing clubs like Getafe are still in the race for Nocerino.