Onyewu Signing Good Sign for US

Maybe the most under-reported aspect of the U.S. national team's run to the Confederations Cup final last month was that, given the spotlight, a couple of American players probably earned themselves some nice European paydays. Nowhere was this more evident than starting central defender Oguchi Onyewu, especially after his epic performance in the U.S.'s 2-0 win over-then FIFA No. 1 Spain in the tournament semifinals.

All of the post-Confederations Cup scuttlebutt surrounding Onyewu, who was out of contract at Belgian champ Standard Liege, were moves to lower-tier Premier League clubs and some far-flung Turkish teams. So Tuesday's announcement that the 6-foot-4 Maryland native signed with Italian giants AC Milan on a three-year contract comes as a pleasant surprise for U.S. fans since it's a far cry from a pre-Confederations Cup link to Birmingham City.

Onyewu's move, especially on the eve of a World Cup year, appears to be a boon for the U.S.

In short, while the movement of U.S. players to Europe has increased rapidly over the last decade, most of those moves haven't been to the most well-known spots on the continent. The bulk of these American plays are toiling away in semi-obscurity in Scandinavian leagues or with mid-table teams in the stronger leagues. So for Onyewu to sign on with a club that's practically a household name around the globe is almost hard to believe.

What makes the Onyewu move to Milan potentially important is that the "Rossoneri" are back in the UEFA Champions League. Following DaMarcus Beasley's move away from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven there haven't been many -- if any -- Yanks seeing the field in the world's top annual club competition. For the U.S. program to keep taking steps forward, there is no better accelerator than having its players participate in the Champions League, where the world's best play.

Though Milan fans protested the club's first day of preseason training, in light of selling Brazilian Ace Kaka to Real Madrid, the move for Onyewu might be a perfect fit for the player and club. Despite his less than auspicious loan-stint at Newcastle United for 11 games in 2007, Onyewu's massive frame is a big help to any defense. (Let's hope the stigma of playing at St. James Park, even if briefly, doesn't haunt Onyewu going forward.)

And with the Milan icon Paolo Maldini finally retiring at the end of last season, there is space for Onyewu to play, or at least complement, veteran holdovers Alessandro Nesta and Kakha Kaladze in defense. Milan fans should be grateful they picked up a potential diamond in the rough, especially one that didn't cost the club a transfer fee and is under 30 years old.

For Onyewu, assuming he plays, there probably isn't a better place for him to have gone. Serie A may have lost a little of its luster in the last couple years, but it's still a top quality league filled with cultured and savvy players. You'd have to think that by training alongside the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Ronaldinho, and possibly even David Beckham (if and when he returns from the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2010) will boost Onyewu's overall game. Just lining up against Pippo Inzaghi on the practice field and trying to catch him offside should boost Onyewu's awareness.

Physicality has never been a weakness for Onyewu and he should be able to throw his weight around in Italy. Meanwhille, his stint with Milan should get him to improve on his ability to distribute from the back and his overall soccer savvy.

It's reasonable to think some American fans would have preferred Onyewu to move to the Premier League. The physical style of play would have suited Onyewu, but it also wouldn't have forced him to work on the gaps in his game either.

Bottom line, there hasn't been an American in Serie A for over a decade and for a Yank to land at one of the world's glamor clubs is yet another sign how things have progressed over the last two decades for the U.S. as a soccer nation.