Coloccini leaves Newcastle after eight (long) years

Matt Stead

Newcastle have cancelled Fabricio Coloccini’s contract by mutual consent to enable the defender to rejoin Argentinian club San Lorenzo.

Coloccini, 34, spent eight years at St James’ Park and was appointed club captain for the 2011/12 season, but has opted for a move back home following the Magpies’ relegation from the Premier League.

“It is rare in football these days that a player gives such length of service to one club and I would like to thank Colo for his contribution to Newcastle United since he joined us before the start of the 2008/09 season,” Newcastle’s managing director Lee Charnley told the club’s official website.

Centre-half Coloccini, who made 39 appearances for Argentina, joined Newcastle from Deportivo La Coruna in the summer of 2008 for a reported fee of £10.3million.

Coloccini captained the Magpies for the first time in October 2010 against Wigan and went on to make a total of 275 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.

He began his career with Boca Juniors and after moving to Italy with AC Milan in 1999 returned to Argentina for a loan spell with San Lorenzo.

A move back to Europe took in further loan spells with Alaves, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal before he signed a permanent deal with Deportivo in 2005.

Charnley added: “In the eight years he has been with us, Colo has become a firm friend and colleague to many players and staff, past and present, who I know will miss him. We wish him all the very best for his future career.”