Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini says he never considered leaving St James’ Park

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Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini never wanted to leave the club after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2009.

Coloccini joined the Magpies in 2008 and although he struggled to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League initially he has now firmly established himself in the Newcastle side and with the club’s fans.

“I suppose some people may be surprised to see me still here,” Coloccini told The Sun.

“After all, it was very difficult playing in the Championship. To go down with a big club like Newcastle was tough. It wasn’t normal.

“So it just felt right that we had to give something back to the fans who had suffered.

“Now we’re back in the Premier League we can enjoy ourselves again.

“I love playing for Newcastle, that is why I wanted to stay. And also, looking at my career, I believe it was a great experience for me to play in the Championship.”

Coloccini says that it is part of the Argentinean culture not to jump ship when a club is relegated, but instead to help them re-gain their place in the higher level.

“Everything was new to me. I had played at the World Cup, the Olympics but never in this division.

“It was a real learning curve and made me a better player. Yes, it’s great to play in the Premier League, but perhaps it’s harder lower down.

“You have to concentrate more, be more humble.

“In Argentina we have a belief that if you go down with a team you must stay there and help correct what has happened.

“You take the club into your heart and you need to come back.”