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Coloccini wants to leave Newcastle

Fabricio Coloccini has been a hit on Tyneside since arriving nearly four and a half years ago © PA Photos

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Fabricio Coloccini has informed Newcastle United that he wishes to leave the club and return home to Argentina for personal reasons.

Coloccini, 30, joined the club in 2008 from Deportivo La Coruna and was made captain following the sale of Kevin Nolan in 2011. Convinced to stay on Tyneside by his father, the former AC Milan defender signed a four-year-contract extension with the Magpies in March 2012.

However, although he has not issued a formal transfer request, he is now keen to return to Argentina due to a reported "personal crisis", with San Lorenzo, his former club, eager to sign him.

"No offence to any other player but Coloccini represents something more to San Lorenzo," San Lorenzo coach Juan Antonio Pizzi told Fox Sports Radio Del Plata earlier this week. "It would be best to make a decision soon, not to delay more. If we are given any hope of signing him, we are capable of waiting. Even if they give us a little bit of hope we will wait for him."

The player's father, Osvaldo, is currently a youth coach with the Argentinean club and he had earlier said: "Fabricio wants to play for San Lorenzo and he is trying his best to find an elegant way to leave Newcastle."

Likened to Bobby Moore by Newcastle boss Alan Pardew in October after his performance in the Wear-Tyne derby, Coloccini is considered to be a key player for Newcastle, who currently find themselves just two points above the relegation zone.

The club are planning to hold further talks with the player and his agent, Marcelo Lombilla, next week in an attempt to resolve the problem. Coloccini is expected to start for the Magpies when they visit Norwich City, led by former manager Chris Hughton, on Saturday

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.