Marco Tilio has revealed Celtic’s Australian influence made it an easy decision to swap Melbourne for Glasgow.
The 21-year-old old winger signed a five-year deal yesterday to become Brendan Rodgers’ second capture of the summer transfer window. Joining from A-League champions Melbourne City for a fee believed to be around £1.5million, he will follow in the footsteps of fellow Aussies Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy and Ange Postecoglou in forging a career at Parkhead.
And having seen his countrymen flourish in Scotland, Tilio admitted Celtic was too big an opportunity for him to
“I’m ecstatic that I’m coming over to Europe, coming to such a big club and team, and I’m super-excited,” the Australia international told Celtic TV. “I hope to bring all my qualities, take on players in and around the box, help the team contribute to goals with assists and hopefully put a few in the back of the net as well.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for myself and having seen Aussies go over there and do well at such a prestigious club, it’s a massive opportunity for myself that I couldn’t deny.
“And being around those guys, Aaron Mooy and Tommy Rogic, in the national team camp over recent years, obviously helped make my decision easier.”
Tilio admitted he’s being planning for a move to European football for several years, having enjoyed a hugely successful career in his homeland to date. He has four A-League titles to his name already, plus one prestigious end-of-season A-League Championship success.
He has immediately set his sights on winning more silverware under Rodgers, insisting he’s ready to make an impact at home and on in the continent as Celtic prepare for next season’s Champions League group stage.
“It’s always been a plan ever since I moved over to Melbourne three years ago,” he said. “It was my plan to go over and do well, and hopefully proceed to go on to different and bigger and better things, and now I think is the time for me to come over to Europe and really challenge myself.
“And I’m really excited with the opportunity I have to come to this club and hopefully I put my best foot forward and play some good football.
“I think it’s a massive opportunity to be a part of a team that plays in the Champions League, and have a winning mentality in bringing trophies. I think that’s important.
“And as a player that’s what you want to be a part of and what you want to do is win trophies, win games. For me it’s always been about that here in Australia and I want to come over there and do the same thing.”
With Jota on the brink of sealing a £20m move to Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad, Tilio’s arrival is timely one for Rodgers. He added Odin Thiago Holm to his squad last week ahead of what is expected to a productive summer window.
Tilio revealed his new manager took time to speak with him about his plans – and it left the former Sydney FC youngster, who is yet to arrive in the UK, raring to go.
“I did have a chat with him a few days ago and I was really excited to have the opportunity to speak to him,” said Tilio. “The plan the club has for me and for the team is a great opportunity as I said I couldn’t deny, and I’m really looking forward to getting over there to Scotland.
“I’m just finalising a few things and I’m trying to pack up everything here in Australia, and as soon as I can, I’ll head over to Scotland, meet all the team, the whole club.
“I’m really excited about that and hopefully I can get over there as soon as possible and get right into the thick of things.
“I think it’s amazing, obviously the pre-season is so long, it drags on, and in Europe it’s a lot shorter than what it is here, so I’m looking forward to getting right into it and playing games, and I think that’s exciting as well that you get over and start to gel with the team as much as possible before the competitions and season starts.”
