D.C. United Academy players to train with F.C. Internazionale in Italy

Washington, D.C. (Via D.C. United) – D.C. United has announced that a select group of D.C. United Academy players will train with their age-group counterparts at partner club F.C. Internazionale from May 3-8. Players from United’s U-14, U-16, and U-18 Development Academy teams will travel to Italy and take part in practice sessions at the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti. They will also attend Inter’s match against AC Chievo Verona at the famed Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, more commonly known as San Siro, on May 3.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity afforded by D.C. United’s special relationship with Inter,” said D.C. United Academy Director Nolan Sheldon. “Some of our best young players will have the chance to work the highest quality of fellow prospects and coaches in a top level professional academy setting. With the addition of attending an Inter match, it will be an experience of a lifetime.”

Traveling academy players include Antonio Bustamante and Daniel Reeves, born in 1997 and members of the D.C. United U-18 team; Donovan Pines and Brandon Williamson, born in 1998 and members of the D.C. United U-16 team; Jose Carranza and Luis Rodriguez-Luna, born in 1999 and also members of the D.C. United U-16 team; and Alexis Cerritos, Michael Edwards and Jonathan Godette, born in 2000 and members of the D.C. United Under-14 team.

Since the announcement of D.C. United’s strategic partnership with Inter in Dec. 2013, the two clubs have collaborated on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, bringing to bear the best resources of both organizations. United forward Michael Seaton trained with Inter in Dec. 2013, and D.C. United Academy coaches traveled to Italy in August 2014 to observe the Inter youth academy. Inter and D.C. United also had a joint training session at RFK Stadium in July 2014 as part of the Nerazzurri’s preseason U.S. tour.