Coloccini: I’ll be a Toon hit

Aug 3 2008 by Steve Brown, Sunday Sun

NEWCASTLE were last night closing in on a £9.5 million deal for Fabricio Coloccini, with the Argentinian ace insisting that he will be a big hit in the Premier League.

United confirmed yesterday that talks with Deportivo La Coruna for the 26-year-old — who can play at centre-back or right-back — were at an “advanced” stage; it’s believed they hope to reveal the new signing tomorrow.

The move did look to have stalled when Deportivo president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro upped Coloccini’s price from the £8.25m bid he’d previously accepted in principle.

The Argentinian’s agent Marcello Lombilla had threatened to report Lendoiro to FIFA for ruining Colocinni’s career, or invoking rules allowing the player to buy out his contract, before then advising the Magpies to look elsewhere.

But that ploy appears to have forced both clubs towards a compromise and, with United officials breaking off from a pre-season tournament in Mallorca to conduct further talks, and with his five-year deal agreed, a move may be finalised by tomorrow . . . which would delight Coloccini.

“It will be excellent for me if the move is finally done,” he said. “The chance to join Newcastle is not only about money, it is a historic club with a great manager and big ambitions for the season.

“I’ve always loved the Premier League, I’ve watched many matches on television, it’s sensational.

“The standard is similar to Spain and I’m convinced I won’t suffer any problems adapting . . . Argentinian players are able to play and triumph in any country so I don’t fear the English league.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle are still in the hunt for Norwegian playmaker Per Ciljan Skjelbred of Rosenberg despite interest from West Brom.