Celtic hope to ‘finalise’ the signing of Marco Tilio this week with Melbourne City’s Australia international still waiting to obtain the requisite work permit before joining the Scottish Premiership champions.
Whether Marco Tilio can emulate the impact of fellow Aussies Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Scott McDonald and Ange Postecoglou at Parkhead, only time will tell.
But arriving after securing an A-League winners’ medal in 2022/23 – not to mention a place in the competitions’ Team of the Year – the early signs certainly look good.
21-year-old Tilio scored 10 goals and set up six more last term. And while YouTube compilations can be more than a little misleading, it is difficult not to get rather excited about a player who appears to combine the searing pace of Celtic’s Daizen Maeda with the touch and elegance of Jota.
“He has that confidence. Why? Because technically, he is fantastic. His dribbling? Superb,” former Socceroos striker Bruce Djite tells Network 10.
“You what I love when I watch him dribble? He is always looking up. He isn’t looking at the ball. This is a 21-year-old player with the world at his feet. He really can go on and do something special, and I love the mentality.
“He’s at the right club. He is performing very, very well. He has just been to a World Cup (in Qatar). A phenomenal, phenomenal player.”
Celtic agree Marco Tilio deal with Melbourne City
Celtic, according to the Scottish Sun, are potentially a work permit away from confirming Tilio’s arrival before the week is out. Personal terms have been agreed. As has a fee with his current employers, the youngster’s departure from Melbourne City expected to exceed the current A-League record of £1.4 million.
Tilio, who can play on both flanks, will compete with Jota, Maeda, Sead Haksabanovic, Liel Abada, James Forrest and the returning Mikey Johnston at Parkhead.
Celtic are also big fans of South Korean speedster Yang Hyun-Jun, though it remains to be seen if he will remain a target once Tilio is through the door.
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