Obafemi Martins has revealed that he would like to stay at Newcastle United and help the crisis-torn club back into the Premier League.
The Nigeria striker had been expected to be among those heading for the exit this summer following the Magpies' relegation into the Championship.
But Martins insists he would be happy to stay at St James' Park and help the club bounce back into the top flight at the first time of asking.
"I hope I am not sold," he told The Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
"If the club decides to sell me I have no choice but to go. But my aim is to stay and help get Newcastle promoted next season.
"I love living in Newcastle and there are few better places to live and play.
"I know the club is for sale and that is hard for the fans. Yet I hear there could be some light at the end of the tunnel eventually."
The ex-Inter Milan player added: "I have been in Italy for treatment lately.
"There I spoke to a lot of people about Juventus and their demotion to Serie B (in 2006).
"Back then, they still kept very, very good players such as Pavel Nedvěd, Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon. That helped them get promoted, so I can take a lot of solace from that."
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The Nigeria striker had been expected to be among those heading for the exit this summer following the Magpies' relegation into the Championship.
But Martins insists he would be happy to stay at St James' Park and help the club bounce back into the top flight at the first time of asking.
"I hope I am not sold," he told The Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
"If the club decides to sell me I have no choice but to go. But my aim is to stay and help get Newcastle promoted next season.
"I love living in Newcastle and there are few better places to live and play.
"I know the club is for sale and that is hard for the fans. Yet I hear there could be some light at the end of the tunnel eventually."
The ex-Inter Milan player added: "I have been in Italy for treatment lately.
"There I spoke to a lot of people about Juventus and their demotion to Serie B (in 2006).
"Back then, they still kept very, very good players such as Pavel Nedvěd, Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon. That helped them get promoted, so I can take a lot of solace from that."
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