Peter Nowak Confirms Departure Of Michael Orozco Fiscal

In a conference call with the press on Wednesday, Philadelphia Union coach Peter Nowak confirmed what had been rumored for several days: Michael Orozco Fiscal's time in Philadelphia is over.

Suspicion began to creep in about the player’s status with the team when fellow Union player Roger Torres posted a farewell message to a player named “Michael” on his Twitter page. Orozco Fiscal’s status was left in further doubt after the Union removed him from the official team website’s roster page on Major League Soccer’s roster compliance deadline day.

"He's back in Mexico and the stuff is already done. For me and our staff, it's a very simple situation and we need to move forward with that," Nowak told reporters. According to the Union coach, Orozco Fiscal's loan included an option to buy, but the team did not exercise that option. The loan ended January 1 and the defender became property of his old team San Luis, despite the fact that the player had still been in camp with the Union as recently as their February trip to Florida.

Orozco Fiscal will return to Mexico to rejoin San Luis of the Primera División. He will attempt to crack their starting lineup even though the team has already begun the 2011 Clausura season. San Luis are also participating in this year's edition of the Copa Libertadores.

The Mexican-American defender’s departure leaves the Union quite thin at the back. He started 29 games last year, and played more minutes than any player other than left back Jordan Harvey. Only five natural defenders are now left on the Union’s roster, but the team has until the close of the MLS transfer window on April 15 to continue to add players.