South Florida soccer fans better enjoy Facundo Erpen while they can. Because if the Miami FC defender has his way, he will be living in Europe by the Fourth of July.

''For me, thinking about it, two months [with Miami FC] is good,'' Erpen said after practice Monday. ``Going to Europe is a dream come true, but all I'm thinking about right now is playing in Miami.''

Although he does not have an official contract with a European team, Erpen speaks as if his departure is inevitable. In the next month, he expects to sign with a pro team in Spain or Italy, where his brother Horatio plays for second-division Sassuolo.

Miami FC general manager Luiz Muzzi said he was not aware of any offer from a European club, but he said Erpen has the talent to play in Serie A or Serie B, Italy's top leagues.

''If anybody has a good opportunity, we don't want to hold them back,'' Muzzi said. ``It's our goal to send players to Europe.''

Erpen's departure would be no small loss for the Blues, who return to action Saturday against the Carolina Railhawks after two weeks off. The match is set for 8 p.m. at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

A VALUED ADDITION

When Miami FC pieced together the team's roster during its abbreviated training camp two months ago, Erpen was one of three players the club viewed as its core. The others: forward Diego Serna and midfielder Leo Inacio Nunes.

Serna has earned praise nationally for his fast start -- two goals and three assists -- and Nunes quickly emerged as the offense's setup man.

But Erpen? The Argentine has quietly gone about anchoring a defense that has given up only four goals in four games.

''He's a different kind of player than the other players in this league,'' Miami FC coach Zinho said. ``He's very calm, serene in the back line. He's one of the better players we have in the league.''

Defenders traditionally are the least visible players on the field, unless their errors lead to goals. Erpen hasn't had many gaffes this season -- or in a career that began in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, and led him to Major League Soccer's All-Star Game in 2006.

CAREER PATH

The son of a coach, Erpen developed in Boca Junior's vaunted youth program. He played for Club Juventud Unida and Talleres de Cordoba before signing with D.C. United midway through the 2005 season.

In 2006, he had the best season of his young career, earning a starting spot on the MLS All-Star team after Eddie Pope withdrew because of injury.

But in 2007, D.C. United traded Erpen to the Colorado Rapids, coached at the time by Fernando Clavijo. By late 2008, though, Clavijo had resigned, and the Rapids released Erpen, leaving both of them looking for work.

''They didn't even tell me I had been cut,'' Erpen said. ``I had to find out from the newspaper.''

A few months later, Miami FC's ownership group, Traffic Sports, named Clavijo its director of soccer. Erpen, still without a team, reached out to his former coach.

The result: Miami FC signed a young, dynamic defender with significant MLS experience -- a rare combination in USL-1.

Still, the pairing probably will not last long. Erpen has not moved his wife, Barbara, and daughter, Frances, from Argentina; instead, he will take them to whichever city -- or continent -- he plays in next.

However, the Blues likely will have Erpen for their important stretch of games in June, in which both USL-1 and U.S. Open Cup games are scheduled for nearly every other day.

''My goal is to play my best in the most games I can,'' Erpen said. ``Then I'm going to go to Europe.''

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