The 35-year-old has turned down the offer of a coaching job at Stoke in a bid to try and save his playing career.
Diao insists he is not ready to retire just yet.
“I had a discussion with the gaffer,” he told The Sentinel. “But it doesn’t look like I will be offered a new contract as a player, so I will be looking to move.
“They offered me an assistant coaching role, or coaching the Under 21s next season. But for me, I think it is too early, because I haven’t earned my coaching badges yet.
“I would only like to do it when I am ready, so maybe I will be back here in the future when I have my badges, who knows?
“There is no ill-feeling at all, that is life and that is football. Sometimes things move on and you are not a part of it, so you have to follow your own path.”
Diao joined Stoke from Liverpool in 2006.
“In my head, I want to carry on playing for one or two more years, because football is so enjoyable and I never want it to end,” he added.
“Hopefully, I will get something somewhere else. I will check all the options and decide with my family because that is important.
“The family are settled here, so the priority is to stay in England, but if I get an offer from abroad worth looking at, then I will check it out.”
