Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini says the attachment he has formed with the club and its fans is what has kept him at St James' Park since 2008.

Coloccini has had multiple opportunities to leave Tyneside, but despite the fact his family has now returned to Argentina, the 33-year-old has remained loyal to the Toon Army.

"I have the opportunity to move, but I preferred to say here because the people in the street are kind with me. I feel part of this city and this club," Coloccini said, as quoted by the Daily Mirror.

"People didn't understand what happened when I wanted to go back to Argentina, in January 2013. My family moved to Argentina. My kids were there and it was a bit difficult.

"It was the first moment I have been separated from them. Then you have to separate work from family. It was difficult because I want to be very close to my kids.

"I had a lot of love from the club and the city at this time. They said, 'Colo stay'. That was a big part in my decision to look forward.

"Then this summer I had a few opportunities to leave. I spoke to the club and said, 'I have this opportunity, what do you want? I prefer to stay'.

"They say, 'No, we want you to stay with us'. For me, that is part of the love that I take from the city.

"I enjoy Newcastle very much. It is not a big city so there is no traffic, 10 minutes to go anywhere and you have everything here. You don't need to go to a big city for anything.

"We have everything. We have a theatre and it is very nice.

"I live in the present. Sometimes people say, 'You are going to be a manager'. I say, 'I don't know, I have a game on Sunday'. I live and enjoy the present. A career is short and I like to enjoy every day."

Coloccini joined Newcastle from Deportivo la Coruna in the summer of 2008 and has since featured more than 250 times for the Magpies.