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Andrea Mancini, an Italian midfielder who appeared just once with D.C. United in his first season with the club, has been released by the Black-and-Red. Mancini will now join the NASL's New York Cosmos, where he has effectively been on trial for a month (a development first reported by the This is Cosmos Country Podcast). The Cosmos have since confirmed that they have signed Mancini.
Andrea is the son of Roberto Mancini, who was the manager of Inter Milan when the younger Mancini signed with D.C. United back on March 27th. Inter Milan is co-owned by Erick Thohir, who has been a managing partner of United since July 10, 2012. The elder Mancini was fired from that post last month.
Mancini appeared in just one game with the Black-and-Red, coming on as a second half substitute in the US Open Cup game against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Mancini did not take part in the penalty shootout in which the Strikers eventually prevailed. In addition, Mancini appeared twice on the bench for Ben Olsen, against the Houston Dynamo and the New England Revolution in June.
The former Manchester City youth product’s departure opens up an international spot on the roster for United. Kennedy Igboananike’s arrival in July took up the last international spot, after Alhaji Kamara was put on the short-term injured reserve with a hamstring issue. Kamara has sat out the required six games to come off the IR, but it remains to be seen if United will activate him immediately.