Premier League strugglers Newcastle United have announced that Argentine defender and captain Fabricio Coloccini will remain with the club until at least the end of this season.
The 31-year-old had requested to return to his homeland citing personal problems, but after several days of negotiations he has now agreed to stay at St James' Park for the time being and will also continue in his role as captain.
"Coloccini is going to stay with us and will remain as captain, which is fantastic news for us," said Newcastle manager Alan Pardew.
"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."
Coloccini's advisors had travelled to Tyneside in an attempt to release him from the new four-year contract he signed just last season, a request which was never likely to be accepted.
The news comes at the end of a week in which Newcastle signed French trio Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara and Yoan Gouffran, while Toulouse revealed that their French international midfielder Moussa Sissoko was also on his way to St James' Park.
Newcastle have no game this weekend after going out of the FA Cup at Brighton earlier this month, but will face against fellow strugglers Aston Villa in the Premier League next Tuesday.
Source: AFP
