Marco Tilio’s return to Melbourne City has been nothing short of transformational. After struggling for minutes and fitness during a frustrating spell at Celtic, the Australian winger is once again showing why he was so highly regarded when he first made the move to Glasgow.

Celtic fans barely had a chance to see Tilio in action. Injuries hampered his progress, and amid fierce competition for wide positions—featuring the likes of Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda, and James Forrest—the 23-year-old found opportunities limited.

With Brendan Rodgers unable to guarantee him a consistent run of games, the decision was made to loan Tilio back to City for the remainder of last season.

Since rejoining the A-League side, Tilio has flourished. He’s racked up four goals and five assists in just 13 appearances, rediscovering the directness and creativity that earned him a move to Europe in the first place.

Crucially, his return to regular football since mid-February has coincided with a significant upturn in form for Melbourne City.

Ahead of the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final this weekend, Tilio is arguably in the best form of his career. His influence goes far beyond his headline numbers.

His ability to draw defenders, open up space for teammates, and press aggressively from the front has become central to City’s game plan.

It’s no surprise Melbourne Victory boss Tony Popovic is expected to assign young defender Josh Inserra the daunting task of keeping the winger quiet on the biggest stage of the season.

For Celtic, the revival of Tilio’s form could raise questions about his future. Should he carry his Grand Final form into next season, he may yet force his way back into Brendan Rodgers’ plans—or attract further interest from elsewhere.

Either way, Tilio has emphatically reminded everyone of the talent that prompted Celtic to break the Australian transfer record to sign him.