Hamilton fired home the opener in the 3-2 win at Red Star Belgrade, becoming in the process the youngest player to score on his Champions League debut for City at the age of 20 years and 30 days.
Guardiola was thrilled for the Academy graduate, who first came to the manager’s attention when he was a ballboy at the City v Palace home game in 2017.
Footage has reappeared this evening of that interaction between Guardiola and Hamilton on the sidelines at the Etihad, with the boss unaware – but nevertheless - delighted on hearing about the exchange.
“I didn’t know this. Six years ago? Wow yeah, here you are,” said the manager.
“What a goal and what a game.
“I am so happy for him. He is training well and we saw his skills. He made a fantastic goal. Defensively he was aggressive.
“Congratulations to our Academy for how many players came up and how many we sell.
“We had Mo as well, he played really well as well.”
It was undoubtedly a special night for the club’s Academy, with Oscar Bobb scoring his first senior goal alongside a Player of the Match performance.
Goalkeeper True Grant and defender Max Alleyne also travelled with the senior squad for this final UCL group game and Guardiola revealed he was keen to bring on the centre-half in the second period but was put off because of the ebb and flow of the exciting encounter.
He heaped praise on the conveyor belt of talent at his disposal, hailing the fine work being done behind the scenes at the CFA.
“It’s not easy to get opportunities at that level because in big clubs you don’t wait,” the manager added.
“In the end we wanted to put Max on but the game was not under control.
“It’s a compliment to the Academy. Cole Palmer was here. Romeo Lavia, James Trafford, [Gavin] Bazunu.
“Many players in our Academy are in the Premier League or Championship.
“They have done unbelievable. It is top class.”
