Lakers’ Steve Nash to try out for soccer tournament with Inter Milan

Steve Nash will pursue his love of soccer this off-season, trying out for Inter Milan with hopes of joining the franchise for the Guinness International Champions Cup.

“It’s a dream come true to get a chance to try out, not just to try out but to take the field with Inter Milan, one of the great, storied franchises in professional sports,” Nash said in an interview with the Associated Press. “I feel like a little kid.”

Tryouts will take place in New Jersey on Tuesday. The tournament will run through Aug. 7, ending in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Nash is still working through the issues that kept him out late in the season (hamstring, hip and back) but is almost back to healthy.

“I’ve had a really good summer of training and rehabilitating,” Nash said. “I’m not 100%, but I’m pretty close. Good enough to go out there Tuesday. I’m thrilled I’ve had this time to build myself back up, and I believe I’ll have a great year.”

Time Warner Cable SportsNet will air the All-Star guard’s “Steve Nash Foundation’s Showdown” on Tuesday.

Nash recently held a charity soccer match in Los Angeles featuring NBA stars Jeremy Lin, Klay Thompson and Jared Dudley -- along with some of the top soccer players in the world (including Robbie Rogers, Carlo Cudicini and Robbie Keane).

Proceeds from the event will work to benefit underserved children through Nash’s foundation.

This was the first event of its kind in Los Angeles -- Nash recently held his sixth annual Showdown in New York.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.