Argentine outfit San Lorenzo have announced that they will not be signing Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini this month.

The Magpies’ defender had been expected to leave the Premier League club after announcing that he would like to return to Argentina for personal reasons.

They cited Newcastle’s demands, believed to be in the region o £7m, as the reason that a deal could not be concluded:

"Finally, after long negotiations, we announce that Coloccini will not join the squad. It was not possible to release the Newcastle player and therefore the club will look for another alternative." They are quoted by The Mirror.

It is believed that Coloccini is still a key part of manager Alan Pardew’s first-team plans, despite his desire to leave and the arrival of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa from Montpellier.

However, it is unclear as to whether he will remain with the Tyne club past the summer, and San Lorenzo hope that they can strike a deal to bring the defender back to Argentina eventually:

"I believe any deal will be difficult because the money could be impossible for us. We are dependent on the player agreeing something with Newcastle.

"It would be impossible for us to buy the player because of our financial situation.

"We know he has private problems and wants to come to Argentina so we would desire an agreement and can offer him a good contract."

He held talks with representatives of San Lorenzo this week, but the club were unable to reach an agreement to sign the 31-year-old.

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