Exclusive: Fabricio Coloccini deserts Newcastle
Club captain is on his way, but Magpies agree deal for Yoan Gouffran
MARTIN HARDY WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2013
Fabricio Coloccini is heading out of Newcastle United after he told officials he does not want to play another game for the club.
The 31-year-old captain now plans to leave Tyneside in his desire to return home to Argentina as he bids to deal with "personal matters". Coloccini's wife is already believed to have returned home to Argentina.
Talks had taken place earlier this week between Coloccini's representatives and officials from Newcastle in a bid to broker a peace deal where the central defender would stay at St James' Park until the end of the season, at which point his position would be reassessed.
However, after extensive discussions they failed to reach agreement and now the player is set to quit.
In the background to all this was the vocal interest of the Argentinian side San Lorenzo, for whom Coloccini played on loan in the 2000-01 season. Coloccini's father Osvaldo also works at the club.
They have not been able to find the funding to buy the player from Newcastle, who are currently embroiled in a fight for their Premier League future. Coloccini's £60,000-a-week salary is way out of their budget. They were similarly unable to negotiate a transfer fee for the player.
A statement from the Argentinian club confirmed defeat in their ambitious attempts to sign the Newcastle captain.
"Finally, after long negotiations, we announce that Fabricio Coloccini will not join the roster of San Lorenzo," it read. "It is not possible to release the Newcastle player, and therefore the club will look for another alternative to strengthen the defence."
That was seen in some quarters as offering the possibility of Coloccini staying at Newcastle. However, the player, who first told club officials of his desire to quit Tyneside on 10 January, has instead reaffirmed his decision to end his four-and-a-half years at St James' Park.
Coloccini was signed for £10.3 million from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna when Kevin Keegan was in charge in 2008. Newcastle were relegated to the Championship that season but he excelled during the following campaign when Newcastle won promotion and then established himself as one of the most cultured central defenders in the Premier League the season after.
He signed a new Newcastle contract in March 2012 and was voted into the PFA team of the year, but the last few months have been troubled for the Argentine and he now plans to return home. Coloccini does not intend to play against Aston Villa in Tuesday's crucial relegation battle at Villa Park – their next game – but Newcastle could have half a new team in place by then.
