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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Josh McCafferty

Inside Tilio's Celtic switch: Club project, 'crazy' first day, injury setbacks

Celtic supporters would be forgiven for not knowing Marco Tilio. 

The Aussie winger joined the club in the summer of 2023 and was one of Brendan Rodgers' first signings upon returning to Glasgow's east end. 

Tilio's first few months in Scotland, however, went far from as planned, as he struggled to break into the team amid several injury issues. 

The 23-year-old has only made two senior appearances for Celtic to date and is currently on loan at Melbourne City. 


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He recently reflected on his move to Parkhead, and how he chose the Scottish Premiership champions despite interest from elsewhere: "There were a few clubs [interested]," he told Optus Sport

"Come the end of the season, it narrows down. Speaking to all the clubs I did at the time, I was convinced mostly by Celtic. 

"Obviously, they're a huge team. They had a project for me, everything like that, and I couldn't give up the opportunity to play for Celtic. I'm really glad I made that decision at the time, and I'm still owned by them at the moment."

Tilio recalled how his first impressions of Lennoxtown heightened his sense of trepidation at the transfer: "It was pretty crazy, my first day," he said. 

"I went to the building, there's staff everywhere, there's so many players, big players. It was sort of frightening at first. 

"They were welcoming to me, it made it easier. That first day, there were nerves.

"I knew what I was getting myself into. It was important that I went there with the right mentality."

Despite signing for Celtic in July 2023, Tilio never made his debut for the club until November of the same year. 

He was initially injured when joining, although it was let slide by doctors at Lennoxtown. 

"It was hard," he said. 

"Celtic were more than happy - 12 weeks in a five-year deal is not huge. I went on to do my rehab there throughout the pre-season. I obviously missed that part with the team, not being in training and adapting."

Tilio then returned to Australia just seven months after joining Celtic. 

He has been on loan at Melbourne City since February 2024, and has, particularly this year, caught the eye, having scored four goals and assisted three in 15 A-League appearances. 

The winger is due back in Glasgow this summer, when he will look to make a firm impression on Brendan Rodgers and finally make a considerable fight for a place in the Celtic team, two years after initially joining the club.  

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