Marco Tilio’s new manager thinks winger didn’t have ‘much fun’ at Celtic before loan switch

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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers moved to trim his squad during the window following much criticism over bloated numbers on the payroll.

Yosuke Ideguchi and David Turnbull were the only two players to leave Parkhead permanently, with the latter earning the Bhoys a cool £2 million fee despite his contractual situation.

Nevertheless, shifting individuals for financial gain is a complicated endeavour mid-season, which meant loan deals inevitably took precedence for Rodgers in January.

Republic of Ireland winger Mikey Johnston completed a late switch to West Bromwich Albion; meanwhile, Hyeokkyu Kwon and Adam Montgomery were farmed out to St Mirren and Motherwell to continue their development.

Unfortunately, Montgomery has suffered a serious injury and has since returned to Lennoxtown to undergo treatment.

Summer signing Marco Tilio was part of Australia’s contingent eliminated from the AFC Asian Cup yesterday. However, the 22-year-old will now travel to Melbourne City to spend the remainder of the campaign.

Marco Tilio’s new manager comments on his time at Celtic

Failing to establish himself, Tilio made just two cameo appearances for Celtic amid problems with injury and transitioning to life in Scotland [Transfermarkt].

Rodgers did suggest that the winger was ‘starting to find his feet’ at Parkhead, though he is now in a position to kick at AAMI Park under Aurelio Vidmar.

Vidmar has spoken about the 22-year-old’s arrival alongside his time at the Hoops, claiming Tilio didn’t have ‘much fun’ in the first half of the campaign.

He stated [Glasgow Times] “It’s really exciting for us and for Tills as well, because he hasn’t had much fun over the past six months since he moved to Celtic.

“He wants to get back and start playing again. Get back to the form that he was in before he left the club.”

Celtic loanee Marco Tilio needs to embrace loan challenge

In his time at Melbourne City, Tilio will be keen to embrace familiar surroundings as he aims to show the evident talent that earned him a £1.5 million transfer to Celtic in the first place.

The Hoops still have six wingers on the books, seven if you count Rocco Vata, which was always going to make it an uphill task for the 22-year-old to hold down a first-team berth in Glasgow.

Performing in the A-League is the only way the Hurstville-born man will be able to stake a claim to be part of Rodgers’ long-term framework once next term’s pre-season rolls around.