Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini has committed to staying at St. James' Park for another season.
The Independent reports that the Argentinean international has told Magpies boss Alan Pardew that he'll stay with the North East club for another year. The news will be music to the ears of United fans, who worship Coloccini and know full-well his value to an otherwise shaky and attack-minded back-four. He has easily been Newcastle's best player in the past two seasons, but for six months his future had been in major doubt after
the player attempted to force through a move back to South America, to join San Lorenzo, a club where his father is a coach. He had become unsettled for family reasons that ultimately led his wife to return home and he desired to follow. Pardew pleaded with Coloccini to stay for Newcastle's desperate fight against relegation and the club threatened a lawsuit if he went AWOL on a lengthy contract that doesn't expire until 2016. Coloccini ultimately saw out the season at the club. Most Newcastle fans probably expected him then to leave this summer but the 30-year-old has been convinced to stay by Pardew, seemingly on the fact that he is too vital for The Magpies to lose. The Independent said;
Coloccini did admit on Argentine television last night that he still has aspirations to move back to San Lorenzo but that he would not be moving there this summer. Im a grateful person and Newcastle have given me the opportunity of playing in the Premier League, which is the elite of football, so I will stay at Newcastle, he said. I have talked many times with San Lorenzo about moving back with them. My desire is to move back but that's not going to happen next season. I didnt move to San Lorenzo last season because Newcastle didnt want me to leave. Im not going to move to San Lorenzo now because Newcastle dont want me to go. I have to respect that decision.
Coloccini's promise to stay on Tyneside leaves Alan Pardew with three extremely strong centre-backs to shuffle next season with Steven Taylor and French international Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa vying for places. Despite this, Newcastle are
still linked with major interest in long-term target Douglas, a giant centre-half whose contract at FC Twente has now ran out and would be available on a free transfer.