Marco Tilio

Have my doubts he’ll make it here tbh … wouldn’t mind seeing him on loan to a Hibs or Aberdeen though.

 

Can't say he really got a chance here tbf. Would not mind see him play in pre season.

 

https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-leag...o-celtic-score-result-highlights-latest-news/

 

https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-leag...o-celtic-score-result-highlights-latest-news/

Marco Tilio continued his impressive form as Melbourne City drew first blood in their Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Final against Western United, aleagues.com.au’s Sacha Pisani reports from AAMI Park


16,912 kilometres away from Celtic’s title party in Glasgow, a rejuvenated Australian talent looked like the player of old in Melbourne.

The 23-year-old’s performance in an Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Final under the AAMI Park lights on Friday was a reminder as to why Celtic splashed out a then-record transfer fee to prise the Socceroo from Melbourne City in July 2023.


Back at Melbourne City in a second loan stint, Tilio’s time at Scottish powerhouse Celtic has not gone according to plan. He saw just 27 minutes of action. A big part of that was the fact he started behind the eight ball upon joining the Hoops two years ago.


“It was hard…in my head I thought I’d only be out a week or so, and up until that point I’d never been injured in my career, so I thought I’d be fine,” he said recently via Optus’ Takes from the Terrace.

“But then when I came back to London and did a medical they said I’d done a grade three hamstring tear, so that was a 12 week injury and I did that rehab all through the Celtic pre-season.

“Being injured was new to me, I didn’t know the whole rehab side of it and how you approach it, but obviously I learnt it very quickly



It does build up and get a lot (mentally) but it also fuels you, you want to stay out there and play.

“I thought ‘enough is enough’, I want to do everything I can to make sure I’m there playing, and if I’m playing consistently I know what I’m capable of.



With game time limited, a return to familiar surroundings eventuated at the backend of the 2023-24 season, albeit on loan at City before securing another temporary switch to the 2021 champions, this time a season-long deal away from Celtic Park.

After an injury-interrupted start to 2024-25, Tilio has rediscovered his best form under the watchful eye of Aurelio Vidmar.

Five goals and four assists. It is a significant return for a player who has been in the spotlight since Celtic splashed out a reported AUD $3million. It is also his best goal return since bagging 10 goals during City’s run to the 2023-24 Grand Final.

On Friday night, it was the Tilio of old. Frighteningly quick and a threat in attack – he was irresistible at times against Western United.

He provided the assist for German Ferreyra’s opener and had a hand in City’s third against the Green and Black. He was also unfortunate not to score. First he outpaced two defenders, including one of the brightest talents in Australian football nine minutes before half-time – all that was missing was the finish.

Then, during the closing stages, an audacious long-range volley nearly produced a finals moment for the ages.

There was one aspect of Tilio’s game, however, that stood out in the first leg. His aggressiveness in ball protection. It is something he has clearly worked on while on the books of Celtic and it would have clearly impressed his manager abroad.

“It’s been good, especially his last six weeks, he’s been excellent,” City head coach Aurelio Vidmar told reporters post-match. “He probably deserved to score a goal tonight and probably should have scored tonight



I’ve spoken so much about Tilio over the course of the season that on his day when he’s on, he’s definitely the best winger in the competition.

“He brings a lot of different attributes. He can score, can make assists. He is a great dribbler, he is clever. All those things make him a very, very good player.”

It does now pose the question, what is next for a player still contracted to Celtic for another three years?

“On a selfish point of view, I’d love to have him another year,” Vidmar said a month ago.

“What’s really important for him, we have to remember what he’s done over the last 15 or so months, he hasn’t played a * of a lot of football.



To get a big bunch of games. He’s played most of the year this season. If he can play another 30 next season, it will really put him in a better position.

“What I wouldn’t want is that if he goes back to Europe, whether he is at Celtic or loaned out somewhere else and it’s not the right club where he struggles to play or struggles to fit in, it will be another year lost for him




Again selfishly, have him another year – what he is doing now and be super, super consistent next year, with a few more Socceroo caps under his belt, that would be the way I see.

“But I’m not making those decisions. He talks with his agent and then maybe it’s all out of our hands and then Celtic just bring him back. We will see where it goes.”

It remains to be seen what the future holds but one thing is certain, Tilio’s form has him destined for a return to Europe, either at Celtic or elsewhere.

 

Jota replacement imo.

 

Arzani was playing for Melbourne Victory, played well

 

Melbourne city owner saying they are in talks to keep him another year but unsure if Celtic wamt to send him somewhere in Europe instead.

What a * ridiculous signing.

I wonder if Lawwels wife wants a scouting job, she surely cant be any more useless at spotting a player than her * of a husband or idiot son

 

No value in going to Australia again on a loan, either sell him to them and make a wee bit on what we paid. Send him on loan to a European club or play him.

 

I’m always supporting Oz players on here but never quite saw the sense in signing tilio. The very best AL players are good enough for Celtic but I’d never class tilio at that level. Your Rogic and Mooy level players are what Celtic need and tilio, at this point, is on the outside looking in. I’d love to be wrong so, prove me wrong Marco…

 

I guess it’s worth noting that mooy was crap until he hit 25 and suddenly a switch was turned on. Tilio possibly has that level capacity

 

No chance he’ll be brought back

 

Probably right

 

Melbourne City director of football Michael Petrillo says his club are in negotiations with Celtic over the future of Marco Tilio.


The winger joined City on loan from the Scottish Premiership champions over a year ago.

He has impressed for the club in the A-League this season, scoring five goals and assisting as many across 19 appearances.



The 23-year-old started at the weekend as his side defeated city rivals Melbourne Victory to win the A-League Grand Final and end the campaign on the most almighty of highs.

And now, with decisions looming on players ahead of the summer, Petrillo has given the latest on Tilio's future: "We're still negotiating whether he stays another year or goes to Europe," he told the Football Fever podcast.

"We hope he stays another year."

The player himself admitted his future remains uncertain following Saturday's showpiece final: "I feel in a really good place," he said.

"My future is obviously up in the air at the moment, so I'm unsure what is going to happen.

"It's always been about just playing well. I know when I'm playing well that people are always watching.

"I want to do everything I can to help Australia qualify for another World Cup.

"I took everything in from last camp and put myself in the position now where I feel I’m better for it. I just want to execute everything that I know that I can, and put myself in the position to hopefully be in the squad and play.

"It's been 18 months since I’ve actually stepped on the pitch for the national team.

"So I think it’s at that time now that I put myself in a position to play well, get an opportunity to do well, and hopefully, sort of cement a spot in there."

 

I'd keep him purely on the basis that we'd see less Yang

 

He's never gonna be good enough for me..

* sending him back to Oz. Get him out to an open league, even somewhere pishy like Cyprus and hopefully get a fee back down the line..

 

Could tell from the start he was never going to be a success here. More ridiculous recruitment.

 

Agreed. Time to stop with the cheap and nasty punts that just bloat the squad for years.

 

I don't think we should stop, just limit them. That summer had him, Kwon, Yang and Holm. Heightened by lots of other poor recruitment.