Share

Keeping Coloccini was best deal - McClaren

London - Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren said the best bit of business the Magpies did during the close season was convincing captain Fabricio Coloccini, who was heavily linked with a move to Crystal Palace, to sign a one-year contract extension.

Coloccini was a rock at the heart of Newcastle's defence, along with equally-impressive centreback Steven Taylor, as Newcastle surprisingly held Manchester United to a goalless draw on Saturday.

"There was a point in the summer where we thought he (Coloccini) might well be going. Most definitely," McClaren was quoted as saying by the Chronicle.

"There were offers on the table, but the club has done great to address that situation and keep him.

"They've done that, and deep down, I think he always wanted to finish his career at Newcastle.

"There's been a lot of talk about signings this summer, but for me, that (Coloccini) was the best one," the 54-year-old added.

Coloccini said he was pleased the Magpies recorded their first clean sheet of the season at Old Trafford and praised the team for defending as a unit.

"It is a great point for us. Getting a clean sheet is very important and we will keep working in this way because it looks like we are going in the right direction," the 33-year-old Argentine told the club website.

"It is not just about the four defenders and the goalkeeper -- defending is about the whole team and we did that well today.

"From the striker all the way back to (goalkeeper) Tim (Krul), we worked very hard for each other," the Argentina international said.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE