Marco Tilio has made a decisive choice this summer, opting to stay with Melbourne City on loan rather than return to Celtic for pre-season. It has emerged that the Australian international was offered the chance to join Celtic’s pre-season preparations, which would have given him the opportunity to get a full run with the squad and potentially stake a claim for a place in Brendan Rodgers’ team. However, Tilio decided that staying in Australia was the best path for his development.

Tilio joined Celtic in 2023, but his time at the club has been plagued by injuries and a lack of playing time. When he first arrived in Glasgow, Tilio was sidelined with an injury and never truly got up to speed with the rest of the squad. This lack of momentum meant he was back in Australia on loan before he knew it.

Reflecting on his decision, Tilio told The Australian Courier, “I spoke with Celtic and they wanted me to go back there and do the pre-season, but for myself, it was about getting myself in the right place and the right mindset to eventually want to go back overseas.” He acknowledged that missing so much football made him hesitant to return to Scotland without guarantees of regular playing time. “For me, missing so much football, I didn’t want to risk going back overseas and not playing again, so I made the decision to stay at City with the opportunity to play consistent games, stay fit, and put myself in a really good spot, come the end of this loan spell, to go back.”

While Celtic provided Tilio with other potential loan opportunities in Europe, the winger ultimately chose to remain in the A-League. He explained, “There were (other loan) opportunities in Europe to go back and explore but… knowing the competition in Europe, I wanted to have a year of playing consistently.” Tilio’s priority was clear—regular first-team football to regain form and fitness, even if it meant delaying his return to the European stage.

Brendan Rodgers is known for demanding that players fight for their place in the squad, and while the manager is likely to understand Tilio’s decision, it could work against the player in the long run. Tilio’s choice not to return to Celtic for pre-season might be seen as a lack of confidence in his ability to establish himself in the team, even after a full pre-season.

For Marco, this season will be crucial. His loan spell at Melbourne City offers a chance to rebuild on his early momentum as footballer, but it also raises questions about his future at Celtic. As things stand, the odds of him playing another competitive game for the Hoops are uncertain. Tilio has chosen a path that prioritises consistent game time over the immediate challenge of competing for a spot at Celtic, a decision that could define his career trajectory in the coming years.