Marco Tilio transfer latest: Melbourne City boss gives 'clear' update

Melbourne City boss Aurelio Vidmar delivered an update on the club’s transfer business as the Isuzu UTE A-League champions returned for pre-season training.

City are re-grouping ahead of an Australia Cup Round of 32 clash against NPL NSW side APIA Leichhardt on July 30, with their squad taking shape ahead of the new campaign.

The champions have lost Steven Ugarkovic, Harry Politidis, Arion Sulemani, Callum Talbot and James Jeggo since lifting the trophy at the end of May, while speculation remains over the futures of stars Yonatan Cohen and Marco Tilio.

Socceroos winger Tilio returned to Celtic after the end of his loan spell, but reports suggest City are keen on bringing him back to the club.

“Well, I think (with) Yonatan (Cohen), there’s still some negotiations and discussions with the club, so that’s ongoing, so I don’t know where that’s going to go,” head coach Aurelio Vidmar said.

“I think it’s clear with Marco that he’s been pretty keen to go back to Europe.

“I think it’s well reported that he’s been in pre-season with Celtic he was involved in a friendly game last weekend,

“So it’s highly likely we won’t have the return of Marco, but we just don’t know where that’s going to end.

“He’s part of Celtic’s property. We don’t own the player, so we’ll see where that goes. And as I said, there’ll be ongoing discussions until we really know exactly what’s happening before we make the next move.”

Meanwhile, City have already welcomed one new recruit – coincidentally also from Scottish giants Celtic – with the arrival of centre-back Liam Bonetig.

The 20-year-old put pen to paper on a three-year deal last week.

“Look, we just saw a fair bit of potential, actually,” Vidmar said on the deal.

“We feel that he hasn’t even gotten close to his ceiling yet. A guy that understands the game, someone very, very familiar with the way we want to play, and we all think he’s got a lot of upside.

“So I think he’s going to be a great addition. He’s still young. He’s still learning. He still needs a fair bit of work, but that’s something that he’s willing to do, and I think that his attitude shows us that he’s got a long career (ahead of him).”

City have kept the majority of their title-winning side together, sealing the key re-signings of Alessandro Lopane (until the end of the 2027-28 season), Samuel Souprayen (2025-26), Max Caputo (2027-28) and Harry Shillington (2025-26).

Meanwhile, the club’s academy continues to produce high quality young players, with the latest crop currently sitting top of the VPL1 standings under the tutelage of Italian great Alessandro Diamanti.

“I think it’s very important (to keep the group together),” Vidmar said.

“I think generally, you go to an off-season and you come back and eight, nine, 10 players have disappeared.

NIX RECRUIT: Wellington sign 15-goal striker with exotic CV to lead attack
RUMOUR MILL: Irankunda set for $7m UK move, City eye Socceroo reunion
JET’S BACK: Newcastle appoint club great to key role

“You’ve got new faces in there, but already, what I’ve seen the last couple of days of training, it tells you the guys who are really glued and connected together, and the way we do things here, I think that’s extremely important.

“Liam has been our only signing (so far). We’re probably waiting for one more, I would say, and a few other boys from the Academy to join our group once their season finishes.

“So I think it’s very important, and it keeps a little bit of continuity amongst the group.”