Marco Tilio has just completed his loan spell in style with a title win. The Celtic winger played the full 90 minutes in the A-League Grand Final, helping Melbourne City beat rivals Melbourne Victory 1-0. It was a strong end to a much-improved season for the Australian.
Tilio was signed by Celtic in 2023 for £1.5 million. He arrived with big expectations, but things didn’t go to plan. Injuries and difficulty settling in meant he only played two games for the Hoops. He returned to Melbourne City on loan to get back to full fitness and find form again.
And he did just that. In 19 games, Tilio scored five goals and assisted five more. He looked sharp, direct, and full of confidence. His performances helped Melbourne City finish the season strongly and win the league title. Now back in the spotlight, he’s been called up for Australia’s World Cup qualifiers.
With changes likely in Celtic’s wide areas, Tilio’s return could come at the right time. Jota is out for the long term, and Nicolas Kuhn could leave this summer. Brendan Rodgers is expected to bring in new wingers—but Tilio’s form might give him a second chance in Glasgow.
He said: (RecordSport), “I feel in a really good place. 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.”
Tilio will now join up with the Australian national team. They will face Japan at home and Saudi Arabia away in upcoming World Cup qualifiers. After that, he’ll get a short break before returning to Scotland. Pre-season training at Lennoxtown is still a few weeks away, giving him some time to recover and prepare.
When Tilio does come back to Celtic, he could be coming into a very different team. Brendan Rodgers will be reshaping his squad for the new season. With injuries and possible transfers, there could be space for Tilio to prove himself.
Whether he stays or goes may depend on Rodgers’ plans—and on how he performs for Australia.
Either way, Marco Tilio has shown that he’s back in form. After a tough start at Celtic, he’s built confidence again. Now, he just needs the chance to show what he can do in green and white.
