Coloccini not happy to stay at Newcastle

Man of misery: Fabricio Coloccini was denied a return to Argentina (PA)

Fabricio Coloccini has spoken for the first time about the frustration he feels towards Newcastle for not allowing him to leave during the January transfer window.

The defender told the club's management on Wednesday that he would not return after he left the training ground following the collapse of negotiations intended to broker a move back to his Argentina homeland. At that point he was threatened with a £7 million lawsuit for breach of contract by his employers.

That forced a dramatic U-turn from the player, but yesterday, in a letter from the Newcastle captain posted on the website of San Lorenzo, the Argentinian club he had hoped to join, he spoke of his disappointment and implied he would still leave Newcastle in the summer.

He wrote: "I write these lines from a long way away where I am missing my country, my family and my close ones and with sadness of knowing that after a series of meetings held here in Newcastle, that my return has been momentarily suspended.

"Unfortunately, life does not always end up like you wanted it, many times is it influenced by third parties and contracts that are stronger than the will of one's own desires."

Coloccini, who is the club's top earner on around £60,000 per week, is expected to play against relegation rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday night. The 31-year-old had hoped to leave England and return to Argentina for family reasons. His wife has already gone.