Former Hibernian loanee Emiliano Marcondes believes the Easter Road side isn't far away from being a 'very good team', as he reflected on his temporary stint in green and white. 

The former Bournemouth playmaker spent the second half of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign in the Capital, scoring three goals in 17 games in all competitions, including a strike against Hearts at Tynecastle. Now a free agent after being released by the Cherries, the former Danish youth internationalist has been reflecting on his time at the Vitality Stadium as well as his loan spells. 

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Marcondes was linked with a move to Norwich City and a reunion with Johannes Hoff Thorup, who had been his coach during a previous loan stint with Nordsjælland in Denmark, which was later dismissed, while a string of clubs in his homeland are also keeping tabs on the 29-year-old.

His father Kim died suddenly last month and that has put his football plans on hold. But Marcondes feels he is approaching the best years of his career and will pick the club that feels right for him. 

“It was quite traumatic in a way, because [my father] was healthy, playing football, swimming, then just had a heart attack,” he said. "So a lot of things to take care of. It’s delayed my transfer to a new club, but sometimes there are things more important than football. There isn't a big rush to find something, I’m just waiting now to see what the best club is for me in the situation I’m in now."

Speaking to the Bournemouth Echo, Marcondes admitted he had been surprised by the size of Hibs after joining on loan. 

"[Hibs was] another big experience; to play in a new league and a new country. It was different. I didn’t actually expect Hibs to be that big a club. I thought it was a smaller club, but it’s actually a massive club up there, with a bigger stadium than Bournemouth with 20,000 seats," he added. 

"Also, the facilities there are great. The infrastructure in the club is good, so it has big potential. I said that from the beginning, and also at the end."

Marcondes started 12 times as Hibs ended up finishing eighth in the Scottish Premiership, missing out on a place in the top six after a 1-1 draw at Motherwell during the final round of pre-split fixtures. But he believes Hibs' role in Bill Foley's network of clubs can only be a benefit. 

"We should have done better, but I think with some small changes, Hibs can be a big club," he added. "I really like the new idea of the multi-club ownership; the partnership with Bournemouth and Hibs. I think that’s what Hibs need to take things to the next level.

"I think they can compete with Celtic and Rangers. That’s what I felt in the games against them, I don't think there was such a big difference. Obviously we didn’t get the results but I think over time, with some changes there, they can become a very good team."