Fabrizio Coloccini signed a new deal at St. James’ Park this summer, ensuring he’ll stay with The Magpies until 2017, but he’s conceded that it would have been easy for him to close the door on the club and move elsewhere this summer, as quoted by the Daily Mirror. The Argentine allegedly had a lot of interest, especially from former manager Alan Pardew, now of Crystal Palace.
Speaking to the press, he said, “I had a few offers to leave the club, but I said my first choice is to be here.”
“I felt proud because I want to be here, I feel part of this club and this city.”
He also admitted that he can see himself staying with the club for the rest of his career, or heading back to his homeland, saying “I expect to be fit and play every game. I would like to finish my career in Europe, maybe here. But maybe I will play a few years in Argentina if I feel ok.”
Alan Pardew worked with the defender for almost three years when he was Newcastle manager, and wanted to take the 33-year-old to London in his first summer as Palace boss, offering him a three-year deal. However, the defender’s loyalty to his current employers meant he stayed on Tyneside, much to the delight of fans.
Coloccini played 32 games in the Premier League last season, starting all of them. He also played a part in all but one of Newcastle’s rare wins last year. The veteran central defender managed a full 90 minutes in Newcastle’s opening game of the season – a 2-2 draw at home to Southampton.
