Newcastle United have terminated the contract of Fabricio Coloccini by mutual consent, bringing to an end his eight-year spell with the club.
The 34-year-old defender had one more year to run on his deal after signing an extension in 2015.
Coloccini cited family reasons for his departure in a lengthy open letter published on Newcastle's website.
He wrote: "Today I'm taking the decision of taking a step sideways, of leaving, for several reasons, none of which have anything to do with not wanting to play in the Championship.
"As I showed last time we lost our Premier League status, when even though I had a World Cup ahead of me, I still wanted to stay at the club.
"One of the main reasons is that after so many years of trying to achieve a title for the club and not being able to do it, it might be time to let other players arrive with the same drive, impetus and desire as I did years ago.
"For logical reasons, the mental strain of this is much more than the physical. For this reason, this is I think for me, the time to take a step sideways.
"Another very important reason is my children. They have been living in Argentina for a few years, they moved there when they were only little. But now I feel they need the presence of their father to help them find a healthy path and direction in life. Also to enjoy my family and my friends, because I left Argentina being only 17.
"Another point that you will undoubtedly understand because this is a city that lives and breathes football - I am 34-years-old now. I feel really well still physically and I am looking forward to carrying on playing football. This day had to arrive, when I had to return to mi gran querido San Lorenzo de Almagro, my home."
