One of Detroit’s soccer academies is bringing a big piece of Italy to Michigan — and it’s sending some talent back to Europe, too.

On Tuesday, the Waza FC announced a partnership with Detroit’s AC Milan Soccer School, forming the AC Milan Detroit Waza. The new organization will welcome youths from ages eight to 18 to develop talent and create teams that have the opportunity to compete in international tournaments worldwide. Top players will also be selected to train with prestigious AC Milan squads in Italy.

“We’re so excited that AC Milan chose us as the club they put their brand on,” said Dominic Scicluna, a director of Waza FC. “We want to provide something that hasn’t been provided up to this point. It’s a win-win for everybody because it’s opening doors, and we’re going to take this opportunity to all of the surrounding communities.”

The AC Milan Detroit Waza becomes one of just a handful of official AC Milan soccer schools worldwide.

The partnership with AC Milan lasts through 2016 and combines elements from both programs’ training curriculums, also giving athletes a direct link to the world’s most successful soccer club. Previously, aspiring stars could train with the Waza FC Youth Academy, a program currently comprised of about 3,000 families that has sent a player to Italy before.

AC Milan announced its plans to open a soccer academy in Michigan in late 2012 and hosted a youth tournament in December. When the Italian club chose to partner with Waza FC, Scicluna explained it was a testament both to the growing soccer culture in Michigan and the stability of the Waza organization. When AC Milan talked to the Waza FC about forming an official soccer academy, the decision was a no-brainer.

AC Milan forward Giampaolo Pazzini celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Catania at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, April 28, 2013.

“We realized it would be a great opportunity for the whole community, and it would open up doors for kids,” Scicluna said. “We’re providing an opportunity that we as players and coaches wish we had.”

Scicluna and the AC Milan Detroit Waza have already reached out to athletes across the region — from inner-city Detroit to Traverse City players in Canada — using the mantra “soccer is for everybody,” and they’ve delivered; according to director Francessco Cilano, players who qualify for the academy won’t have to pay to play.

“If your child shows enough talent to get into the academy, you do not pay a dime,” Cilano said. “Some of the best players in the world came up poor — like Carlos Tevez, or Leo Messi — and didn’t have the money to afford camps. We cannot afford to miss out on the best talent because they don’t have the money to play. The best team should be the best talent, not just the ones who can afford it.”

Scicluna added that he expects that “in between four and seven” children per year will earn the opportunity to showcase their talent with AC Milan’s junior teams in Italy.

The AC Milan Detroit Waza will host tryouts across the Motor City in June, and competition for spots promises to be intense. Scicluna said that he expects that people from all around the midwest will show up to highlight their skills.

“People want to learn and improve and reach their potential,” Scicluna said. “I would think that one of the top teams in the world branding and blending their brand with ours will only add opportunity.”

— Follow Alejandro on Twitter @the_zuniga