"?Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini has expressed a desire to leave the club this summer, closing an eight-year chapter on Tyneside, and finally return home to his native Argentina where last played club football in 2001.
"I want to return to Argentine football. I have one more year of contract but due to the club's decline Newcastle now have another project," Coloccini is quoted as saying by the Newcastle Chronicle following an interview with an Argentine media outlet.
"If there is a chance to return, the priority will be San Lorenzo," the player added.
Coloccini was linked with a move back to South America in January 2013. It was specifically San Lorenzo he also wanted to join on that occasion. However, any chance of a deal was ended as soon as it became apparent that the Primera Division club didn't have the funds necessary to prise him away from Newcastle.
By the summer of 2013, the defender had seemingly had a change of heart and pledged his future to Newcastle. Only last August he signed a further contract extension to keep him tied to the Magpies until June 2017.
Coloccini has had a mixed career as a Newcastle player to say the least. His 2015/16 campaign was dogged by injury and poor performances, while he was one of the few surviving players from Newcastle's previous relegation in 2008/09.
For portions of the intervening years, however, he was often a defensive stalwart, particularly for a period under Alan Pardew during the 2011/12 campaign. But all too frequently he was also a major liability.
Coloccini's anticipated exit could well be the boost that Jamaal Lascelles needs to cement his place as the club's number one centre-back alongside Chancel Mbemba.
The former Nottingham Forest man drew praise in the closing weeks of the season despite poor results as a whole and is set to flourish at a lower level.
To continue the discussion on Twitter follow @jamiespencer155
Visit www.facebook.com/jamiespencer155
"?"?