Former Mag James Perch has made some interesting comments on Fabricio Coloccini’s final few years at St James’ Park, explaining just why he was so keen to return to Argentina.
The classy centre-back and curly-haired captain angled for a return to South America towards the end of his time on Tyneside, with The Guardian confirming in January 2013 that he’d told Alan Pardew he needed to leave for personal reasons.
Eight years later, Perch has insisted that Colo missed home and had to put his wife and young kids first, revealing how he’d have to get a 10-15 hour flight back to Argentina to see loved ones.
Here’s what the ex-NUFC utility man told Planet Football when asked about Coloccini’s exit:
“Colo was young when he left Argentina.
“He’d been away from home for 15 years and he wanted to go home.
“When you’ve got family, your kids and your wife to think about, I can’t imagine how hard that would be for him. I
“I’ve always been in England, but even when I was at Newcastle, I wanted to come back to Nottingham.
“When you get foreign players who’ve been so successful abroad, I can understand them wanting to go home.
“I was just a couple of hours away, Colo was 10 or 15 hours by plane.”
All these years later, Coloccini remains in Argentina with San Lorenzo, not only playing at the age of 39 but recently landing a contract extension at his boyhood club.
For me, he’s the best centre-back we’ve had since the turn of the century and an absolute class act. Yes, he took time to settle and was past his best in his final season at St James’ Park, but he was a joy to watch in his prime and made the game look easy at times.
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Never watched Woodgate then. Colo after him maybe.
KEVIN26(Quote)
As toon fans we have such short memories, forgetting just how bad Colo was the first two seasons he was here.
All of the quotes above appear to be tailored to give the impression that Colo was out here alone, missing his family back in Argentina, when in fact his family were out here with him, and his marriage broke down.
Yep – I’m up for a good story but lets not avoid the truth.
BiffaDescartes(Quote)
How about , Venison, Albert, Woodgate, Roeder all represented the club with a bit more class,
He only missed his family when they left him to go back to Argentina, they were here with him.
Why did they go back ??
Loved how he never gave interviews or spoke up for the fans as his English was poor. funny never stopped him ordering on Osbourne Road.
His annual injury that allowed him months back in Argentina each year.
He was no miss for me personally, another player who not one top club made a bid for in all the time he was here ???? Why ????
CC(Quote)
CC – understand what the turn of the Century means first – I’ll help – since 2000. Pretty sure Vension & Albert left by then, not sure about Roeder though ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
We got good returns from Colo while he was with us, so I have no issue with how things ended with him. I understand him wanting to go back to Argie, but I think Perch makes a sweeping statement about foreign players wanting to return home – plenty settle abroad.
I’m just pleased we got the best out of Perch now I know how homesick he was bless him ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Colo in his prime (2011/12 season) was outstanding. His display that year was the best we’ve seen from a Newcastle CB over the past 20 years, in my opinion.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
😀 forgive me I’m getting on, i think the blood just rushed to my head reading Collocini and best centre half in the same sentence personally id have fernandez above him out the current crop
CC(Quote)