The long saga to acquire Italian midfielder Antonio Nocerino appears close to an end.
After threatening to file tampering charges against Orlando City and the somewhat clandestine and contrived negotiations — Kaka and Nocerino played together at AC Milan — D.C. United has likely received its compensation for giving up its discovery rights. Orlando City and the international player ended up getting what they wanted.
Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel reports the team is near a deal to acquire Nocerino after completing a deal with D.C. United for his discovery rule rights.
Have been told @OrlandoCitySC is just waiting for @MLS clearance to announce Nocerino deal.
— Joe Kepner (@JKepnerWFTV) February 15, 2016
Nocerino has played for the Italian national team as late as 2014 and he is still a member of AC Milan. But he has not played much for them the last few years. Milan has sent him out on loan for much of the last two years.
For a MLS team, this is still a big get. And it adds some incredible depth to the midfield.
Your Starting XI for tonight's preseason friendly versus @JaxArmadaFC. 6pm start. #NeverHuntAlone pic.twitter.com/CND6sW8Y0I
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 13, 2016
The lineup from Saturday’s game in Jacksonville is about what Orlando City is going to roll out. Nocerino would likely compete with Cristian Higuita and Darwin Ceren in defensive midfield. That adds a ton of depth with Servando Carrasco there as well. Nocerino is just a huge influx of talent.
He has to be to have been considered with AC Milan.
Orlando City is always in need of that as depth has become something the team desperately wants to build and shore up after facing injuries throughout last season along with international call ups. The Lions will not complain at having more talent on the roster.
But Orlando City will have to sort out who wins this positional battle and exactly where Nocerino fits in. This is a good problem to have, but one that could disrupt the chemistry already established between the returning Higuita, Ceren and Carrasco.
It appears though that this long, and somewhat silly, saga is nearing an end and Orlando City is getting the guy they wanted and Nocerino is going where he wanted to go anywhere.
