Teamtalk is reporting that Marcelino has indicated he wants to leave the Toon, and that he has launched an attack on Bobby Robson after admitting he cannot wait for his nightmare spell at the club to end.

Marcelino revealed that his relationship with the club had reached breaking point, and that he was keen to return to Spain in an interview with Marca. "Everything has gone from bad to worse since I got here, and Newcastle and I want to end our relationship" he said.

The 29-year-old enjoyed a reputation as one of the best defenders in Spain when Newcastle paid Real Mallorca £5million for his services in 1999, but the Spain international failed to secure a first-team spot with the Premiership club, playing only seven games last season and just six so far this campaign.

"It's affected me a lot. I came with the hope I would play in the Premiership but I lost it completely. Here there are a combination of circumstances which have meant I have not played all the time. My relationship with Bobby Robson has had ups and downs. Sometimes I felt as if I had a lack of support, and have been almost humiliated in the way I've been treated as a professional. Last summer and at Xmas various Spanish teams approached Newcastle but the club did not let me go at that moment."

Marcelino has not yet received any firm offer but sees a return to his homeland as the ideal way to revive his career. "My first option of course is Spain. I've still got the prestige that I've lost in England. I'd love to go back to Mallorca, but I'm open to any interesting offer from Spain."

Hasta la vista, Marcia! Tosser.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 2001

Answers

Try behaving like a professional and you might get treated like one. At least 3 players have played with busted noses this season, you whinge about a poorly finger. Tosser is too polite a word for you.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 2001

Hate to say it but this is just YET ANOTHER example of bad management coupled with signing a player who puts in minimal effort.

It does even more damage to our reputation to attract players regardless of where they're from. I'll be glad to see the back of him but there is a VERY worrying trend here: Guivarch, Gillespie, Ginola, Hammann, Maric, Goma, Domi, Marcy.

There's something rotten in the heart of Geordieland. I'm still waiting for an answer. Until we sort out what it is and kill it, we'll never attract the players of the calibre we need.

-- Anonymous, May 06, 2001

Spain? I suppose it's too late to approach Thompsons now? Might be a couple of vaccancies for reps going in Mallorca. Come to think of it, with the money he's on, he could buy up their entire booking allocation for the whole summer.

-- Anonymous, May 06, 2001

Thomson being my previous employers, i'll have a word if you like - still got a few high profile contacts and they're always on the look out for a highly paid professional who does nothing.

;)

-- Anonymous, May 06, 2001