Rene Meulensteen is convinced old mate Brendan Rodgers has found the perfect Celtic fit in new attacker Marco Tilio.
The Australia coach believes the timing is perfect for the talented Socceroo to be making the switch to Parkhead. With Celtic preparing to lose Jota to the Middle East with the Portuguese winger ready to join Al-Ittihad in a life-changing £25 million deal, Tilio has moved into the squad for a fraction of that figure at a cost of around £1.5 million.
Just as Jota was when arriving two years ago, Tilio is relatively unknown to the majority of the Celtic supporters. But, also just like the former Benfica kid, Meulensteen is sure the Aussie can soon win the adoration of the Parkhead faithful with his skills, goals and desire to graft. The 21-year-old has the ability to play on the flank and get into the box to score.
Ex- Celtic striker Scott McDonald has suggested it is unfair to make any direct Jota comparisons as he likens Tilio’s style more to Patrick Roberts, who was an impressive contributor for Rodgers during his first spell at Celtic. Nonetheless, the former Manchester United assistant and Fulham boss knows Rodgers and Graham Arnold’s international No.2 is adamant his mate is still onto a winner with the capture of the star who has become the A-League’s most-expensive export.
Dutch coach Meulensteen said: “He’s an exciting talent and fits the mould of a Brendan Rodgers-type player. Not only does Marco have great qualities in terms of technique, he’s also got a very good temperament and work ethic. I’ve known Brendan a long time and I’m sure we’ll talk again soon about Marco.
“The fans might not know too much about Marco right now but he’s got the sort of game which I think is perfectly suited for Celtic. The fact that he’ll be joining a team which in domestic games enjoys up to 70 or 80 per cent possession is tailor made for him because he values possession so much, can run with the ball at pace, glides past players and shoots and passes with either foot. He’s been building up to this type of career opportunity for some time through his performances for Melbourne City, and I think the time is right for him to make that step up now.”
Tilio is forging his way into the Socceroo senior set-up of Arnold having impressed rising through the youth ranks and starring for Melbourne City. Meulensteen said: “He’s a boy we had at the last Olympics and he scored in our win over Argentina to show what he’s all about at a very young age.
“Graham and myself could tell then what he might be capable of and, if he keeps working hard and developing, he’s going to be a very important player for Australia in the years ahead. He has a lovely balance to his game and huge determination to succeed. That’s why I feel he is well placed to flourish under a coach like Brendan who will know what to do to highlight his best qualities.”
Tilio became the second capture for Rodgers after his return to Glasgow following the arrival of Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm and more will follow. But, while the manager has got his hands on one incoming Aussie international star, his squad has also lost an influence in Aaron Mooy.
The midfielder announced just hours before the confirmation of Tilio’s capture that he has chosen to retire from football. At the age of 32, Mooy opted to walk away from the game having enjoyed a magical one-year spell with Celtic.
The ex-St Mirren ace featured in the Champions League and was a strong member of Ange ostyecoglou’s unit which swept to the domestic treble. Arnold is also now going to be without Mooy for the national team and, while Tilio can step into the spot which will be vacated by Jota, Holm will be replacing the veteran in the middle of the park.
Meulensteen believes the former Huddersfield star could have stayed at the top level of the game and told FTBL: “It leaves a hole for Celtic and the Socceroos to fill and I think he’ll be badly missed. He’s a special player and, while I respect his decision to retire, I still feel he could easily have carried on for another World Cup cycle for us.
“I was hoping he’d stay on for January’s Asian Cup and then you’re only a couple of years away from the next World Cup, and he’d still only be 35. But, for whatever reason, and I’m sure it’s valid, he’s called it a day and you can only look back and appreciate what he achieved in helping us reach the last World Cup and going on to do well in the tournament.
“He always kept himself in good shape, and to my knowledge, I don’t think injuries were behind his decision. As far as I’m concerned it’s the end of an era. People often hark back to the likes of Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill and how good they were. Well, in my opinion, Aaron Mooy is also right up there.
“He never let the country down and when you needed him most he was there. For me, it’s a real shame. I sent him an extensive text thanking him for everything he’s done and how it was an absolute privilege for me to work with him. Now the other players will have to step up and fill that void.”
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