The ‘fantastic’ Marco Tilio has the potential to thrive at Celtic after the Scottish Premiership champions completed a £1.5 million deal for the Australia international.
Suddenly, those reports suggesting that Celtic were looking to bring both Marco Tilio and Yang Hyun-Jun to Parkhead make a whole lot more sense.
We did wonder, in the middle of last week, exactly why the Hoops needed two more wingers, when they already had so many at their disposal. So when the reports emerged suggesting that Jota could be heading to Saudi Arabia to the tune of around £20 million, things suddenly started to become clear.
Both Tilio and Yang are stylish, skilful, highly-flexible wide players capable of both creating and scoring in the final third. Sound familiar, Celtic fans? Should Jota put pen to paper on a money-spinning switch to Saudi Arabia, Celtic will already have a potential replacement waiting in the wings.
Celtic sign Marco Tilio from Melbourne City
While Gangwon FC continue to stand firm in their desire to keep Yang until the New Year, Melbourne City obviously felt that £1.5 million was too much to turn down for 21-year-old Tilio.
The 2023 A-League champion becomes the most expensive export in the history of the Australian top-flight.
“He’s a really good player. Exciting, a bit raw, but a great ball carrier. Good with both feet. He’ll do well,” former Sydney FC team-mate Adam Le Fondre tells the Daily Record.
“He’ll need to adjust to the league; the physicality and the understanding of a manager and tactical nuances. The A-League is a bit more open and transitional, especially in the second half of games, so he may not get the space he’ll like and maybe a few more tackles.
“But I can see him doing really well here.”
Tilio – labelled a ‘phenomenal’ talent by ex-Socceroo star Bruce Djite – arrives on the back of 10 goals and six assists during the 2022/23 campaign. Form that earned Tilio a place in the A-League Team of the Year.
“There’s been a huge development in him since we played together at Sydney,” Le Fondre adds. “I said (to him); ‘Bloody hell mate, you’ve improved since the last time I saw you!’
“He really grasped his chance at Melbourne and worked really hard. He’s turned into a fantastic young player.”
It remains to be seen whether Celtic now step up their pursuit of Yang. Even if the Hoops cannot twist Gangwon’s arm, Rodgers will still have Tilio, Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada, Sead Haksabanovic, James Forrest and the returning Mikey Johnston to rely upon next term.
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