Pardew: Coloccini to stay at Newcastle and remain captain

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was delighted to announce last night that captain Fabricio Coloccini has agreed to stay.

Two weeks ago the Argentina centre back told the club he wanted to quit and return to South America for personal reasons.

This week the defender, his advisers and Newcastle board members and lawyers held talks over three days to find a compromise.

Will he stay or will he go? Fabricio Coloccini wants to leave Newcastle

Coloccini had been warned he could only walk away if he bought out his own contract, which would cost £7million.

After his first club San Lorenzo pulled out of a deal, Coloccini agreed to stay on Tyneside until the end of this season, at least.

Pardew said: ‘He is going to stay with us and will remain as captain, which is fantastic news. We have persuaded him that, as much as his family need him, we need him too. It is fantastic loyalty to come and play and see us through to the summer.’

Standing firm: Alan Pardew wants to hold on his defender and captain

Newcastle are not in action until Tuesday when they travel to Aston Villa for a crunch relegation clash.

Pardew's men were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Brighton.