Newcastle United skipper Fabricio Coloccini will remain with the club until the end of the season and will be leading the side too, as confirmed by manager Alan Pardew.
The 31-year-old requested the club to allow him return to Argentina, because of personal problems but after days of negotiations with club hierarchies, he has agreed to stay on Tyneside.
The club already lost Demba Ba to Chelsea in the January transfer window and further losing their skipper would have dealt a huge blow, as the Magpies looking to avert their current situation.
Newcastle are 16th in the table with only 21 points, just two points above safety, and in such a situation the club couldn’t afford the Argentine international leave to his native land.
Coloccini’s advisors travelled to Tyneside to release him from his four-year-contract which he signed last season but that request was never granted.
Further, he has been warned that he can leave the club only if he buys out his own contract that would cost around £7 million albeit the club didn’t want to part with him at any cost.
The defender trained with his teammates as his proposed move to San Lorenzo fell through as the Argentine club withdrew their interest over the transfer fee.
Alan Pardew said, as quoted in the Guardian:
“Coloccini is going to stay with us and will remain as captain, which is fantastic news for us.
“We have managed to persuade him that, as much as his family, we need him. He has shown fantastic loyalty to come and play and see us through to the summer at the very least.”
Newcastle looking to bounce back from their present shambolic state as the club captured three more players to the squad, having already signed French fullback Mathieu Debuchy.
The news will come as a huge boost to Newcastle who have no game this weekend as they crashed out against Brighton in the FA Cup. They will face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday evening.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
