Celtic have snapped up Marco Tilio as they complete their second summer signing.
The Hoops have moved to bring in the 21-year-old from Melbourne City as he quickly follows Odin Thiago Holm in putting pen to paper with the Scottish champions as Brendan Rodgers makes his second signing since his return to the club. The former Liverpool and Leicester City boss is back for a second stint on a three-year deal after replacing Ange Postecoglou - who joined Tottenham.
Tilio - who can play on both wings and also as a centre forward - netted nine times and provided six assists in 26 league outings last season and will provide another attacking option up top with star man Kyogo Furuhashi and Oh Hyeon-gyu on the books at present. The new Celtic boss will be looking to add further quality to his ranks as he bids to defend the domestic Treble won last term and also make a splash in the Champions League.
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He's penned a five-year deal and can't wait to get started in the next chapter of his career. Speaking to Celtic TV, Tilio commented: “I’m ecstatic that I’m coming over to Europe, coming to such a big club and team, and I’m super-excited.
“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.”
He continued: “It’s always been a plan ever since I moved over to Melbourne three years ago. 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.”
On his first chat with boss Rodgers, he added: “I did have a chat with him a few days ago and I was really excited to have the opportunity to speak to him, and 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.”
