The majority owner of Inter Milan and D.C. United told Goal that some of the Italian club's prospects could join the MLS team on loan.

Erick Thohir's presence has already allowed D.C. United to end its decade-long search for a soccer-specific stadium. Now the Indonesian magnate's influence could pay off on the field.

The majority owner of DCU and Italian power Inter Milan, Thohir forged a partnership that has seen the two clubs swap employees, share organizational practices and hold a joint training session this past summer. Now, Thohir has indicated the Serie A club could send prospects in need of playing time to the MLS side on loan.

"There are possibilities to send Inter players to help D.C., maybe some hot prospect youngsters to help them get minutes," Thohir told Goal Indonesia. "It will be a great opportunity to play in a big league like MLS."

Thohir became D.C. United's majority owner in July 2012. While co-owner Jason Levien was United's point man on stadium negotiations, it was Thohir's deep pockets that allowed the club to ultimately secure a deal with the city last month to build a 20,000- to 25,000-seat stadium in Southwest Washington.

After the D.C. Council unanimously passed legislation for the stadium, which the team hopes will open in 2017, the new venue figures to invigorate the four-time MLS Cup champion.

"To build and maintain the new stadium is our priority," Thohir said. "D.C. is one of the best teams in MLS. We have many trophies here, and that’s the thing traditionally we’d like to keep. I always want to invest in the teams that have a great history and track records."

In the meantime, however, United will continue to play at antiquated RFK Stadium, where the club loses an estimated $7 million to $10 million per year. Concurrently, Thohir hasn't been one to open the checkbook and spend millions on signing a Kaka or David Villa.

United coach Ben Olsen addressed that dynamic Thursday: "It's not who we are, and it's not going to be who we are for several years — at least until the new stadium hits."

But United still finished atop the Eastern Conference last season with a 17-9-8 record and qualified for the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League in 2014. Without big names, the club saw its success driven by the development of young standouts and the acquisition of savvy MLS veterans.

"It’s not like in Europe because we have salary cap," Thohir said. "We have a solid team, and three of our players received call-ups from the U.S. national team: Bill Hamid, Steve Birnbaum and Perry Kitchen. We also have great players like Fabian Espindola, Sean Franklin, Bobby Boswell. Now it’s all about how to improve them, because they are solid."

That salary cap is currently a topic for debate in MLS as the league and players union negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. With clubs such as the LA Galaxy, the Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC and City Football Group-owned New York City FC spending lavishly on players, there has been talk of increasing the salary cap and the number of "designated player" slots in the new CBA.

"I think this year the salary cap will be raised, while designated players will remain the same," Thohir said. "MLS is getting better day by day, with many major European clubs investing, like Manchester City with New York."

When asked if he agreed with raising the cap, Thohir declined to answer. Instead, he noted it will be "a decision of the [MLS] Board of Governors]" — then praised that system of league-wide communication before expressing hope that the Italian top flight could adopt a similar approach.

"In the USA, the club’s owners have a good communication with each other — not like in Europe," Thohir said. "That’s the thing I’d like to bring into Serie A."

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