Newcastle have been handed a boost as the Premier League season draws to a close with Fabricio Coloccini pledging his future to the club.
The 32-year-old Argentinian central defender looked set to depart St James’ Park in the summer transfer window, having stayed on Tyneside almost 18 months after initially trying to engineer a move back to his homeland before deciding to stay put following lengthy talks with boss Alan Pardew.
Coloccini had agreed to stay at least until the end of this 2013-14 season, but it now appears he will remain with the Magpies until the end of his contract.
He revealed that the problems which prompted him to put in a transfer request in January 2013 are now sorted and he is looking forward to helping Newcastle challenge in the top half of the Premier League next term.
The club’s form has tailed off dramatically since January and the sale of influential midfielder Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint-Germain with Saturday’s 3-0 home win against Cardiff ending a run of six straight defeats.
Coloccini is looking for the club to invest in the summer to ensure they can rediscover their early-season form which set the platform for a top-10 finish this term.
When asked if he would stay at United, Coloccini said: “For sure. I’m going to be here.”
He added: “We want the best for Newcastle United.
“This season we finished top 10, and maybe we will bring some players (in the summer).
“We will try to do well and finish in the top eight, or something like that. We will always try to improve.”
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