Crystal Palace Alan Pardew has been accused of lying by Steve McClaren over an approach for Newcastle United skipper Fabricio Coloccini.
Pardew has denied any interest in signing the 33-year-old Argentinean, who yesterday committed himself to United for another season.
However, McClaren says Pardew did make an offer for the central defender.
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He said: “There was interest and it went beyond speculation. People have denied it, but it’s a fact. Don’t deny it, it’s a fact.
“That’s affected Colo in terms of somebody being out there offering him a three-year contract.
“It was a distraction. It has hindered his pre-season preparations.”
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