Celtic’s Marco Tilio farce continues – Time for a Rapid exit

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·7 août 2025

Celtic’s Marco Tilio farce continues – Time for a Rapid exit

Rapid Vienna Sporting Director Markus Katzer has stated that the club remains interested in Celtic winger Marco Tilio, as this farcical situation is allowed to be continued…

Luke McCowan of Celtic FC celebrates with teammate Marco Tilio of Celtic FC after scoring a goal during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting CP and Celtic at Estadio Algarve on July 16, 2025 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

The Austrian side had been heavily linked with the Celtic wide man earlier in the window, but a move stalled amid claims that Brendan Rodgers would only sanction the Australian’s departure after securing another winger.

Vidéos OneFootball

With no new signings through the door despite being 27 days on since the departure of Nicolas Kuhn, Celtic currently lack depth out wide, and Tilio was left out of the squad for Rodgers’ men opening day 1-0 victory over St Mirren despite the clear gaps in the forward areas.

Previous reports indicated that the 23-year-old was set to join Rapid for £350,000, with a £1.3 million purchase clause being triggered after a specified number of appearances.

Marco Tilio of the Socceroos in action during a Socceroos training session at Perth Stadium on June 06, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Imag

Katzer has now acknowledged that Rapid remain interested and disclosed they had attempted to sign Tilio prior to his move to Celtic.

Speaking via Glasgow Times, Katzer said: “There is interest. We’re monitoring things. We had interest in him before then Celtic signed him as well. We’re looking at players in his position and we’re certainly interested in him but that doesn’t mean it’s a done deal.”

Last season, Tilio returned to the A-League on loan with his former side Melbourne City, who were keen to bring him back on a permanent deal, but reports suggested he favoured staying in Europe.

Marco Tilio of the City lifts the trophy as Melbourne City players celebrate after winning the A-League Men Grand Final match between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on May 31, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

This is an increasingly embarrassing situation for Celtic. To be forced to hold onto Tilio, who has played a grand total of 29 competitive minutes in two years, is beyond farcical.

The lack of quality attacking options heading into a two-legged Champions League qualifier in two weeks’ time is just contemptible. All while the club hoards cash and fails to back the manager and improve the squad on the pitch. Here we are in the same situation again.

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace, IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)

Only this time, it will be the final straw for the manager who quite rightly conveyed last week that he is wasting his time being here if those above him just want Celtic to stand still. The clock is ticking.

Conor Spence

So why have one brilliant David Potter book when you can enjoy two?

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.