Fabricio Coloccini leaves Newcastle after eight-year spell as veteran defender finally rejoins San Lorenzo
- Fabricio Coloccini leaves Newcastle to join former club San Lorenzo
- Veteran centre back spent eight years on Tyneside, five of them as captain
- Coloccini was named in PFA Team of the Year for 2011-12 season
- He explained Magpies were looking to build new, younger side
Fabricio Coloccini has brought his eight-year spell at Newcastle to an end and will rejoin San Lorenzo, a Primera Division club in his native Argentina.
The veteran centre back, 34, played for San Lorenzo in the 2000-01 season on loan from AC Milan.
San Lorenzo have been trying to land Coloccini for the past three years and finally they have got their man.
Fabricio Coloccini has left Newcastle after eight years in order to rejoin former club San Lorenzo
Coloccini, pictured scoring against Aston Villa last season, made over 250 appearances for the Magpies
Head coach Diego Aguirre said: 'Coloccini will be very welcome. He will bring much to the club on and off the field.'
Coloccini, who made over 250 appearances for Newcastle and was made club captain in 2011, revealed his intentions to leave Tyneside earlier this summer.
The former Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna defender explained: 'I think the chances (of leaving) are greater now because of the project they have at Newcastle and because of my age.
'With the relegation, they are pointing to a new plan with young people under 25 years old.
'So it is a matter of talking and then proposing to them my exit. At the moment I have in mind going back to Argentine football.
'I want to go back to San Lorenzo and fulfil the dream of entering the pitch with my kids and retire there.'
Coloccini was named Newcastle's club captain in 2011 by ex-manager Alan Pardew
Coloccini has revealed that Newcastle are looking to build a younger team with players under the age of 25
Coloccini's stay at Newcastle will perhaps be remembered with mixed feelings. He starred in their 2009-10 promotion from the Championship and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in the 2011-12 campaign which yielded a fifth-place Premier League finish.
He was, however, also relegated with the team twice in 2008-09 and 2015-16.
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has made signing Coloccini's replacement a top priority this summer, with QPR's Steven Caulker among those touted to fill his role in central defence.
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