Gavin Bazunu, Sam Edozie, Juan Larios and Romeo Lavia all left the Club for this weekend’s opponents during the summer after developing at City.
Bazunu, a 20-year-old goalkeeper, has started all eight of Southampton’s Premier League games so far while 18-year-old midfielder Lavia began the season in excellent form before injury curtailed his progress.
Match preview | City v Southampton
Edozie, a 19-year-old winger, and Larios, an 18-year-old left-back, moved later in the transfer window but have been involved in the last three games.
Ahead of facing them on Saturday, Guardiola was asked whether he keeps an eye on the progress of the players that developed their skills at the CFA.
“Yes. Romeo Lavia started amazingly, unfortunately he has had the injury. Juan Larios has started again and Edozie as well,” he said.
“Gavin Bazunu is playing regularly. They are all young. The guy (former head of youth recruitment Joe Shields) who was here is now in Southampton and brings them there. It’s an incredible experience at this early age to be ready to play almost week in, week out. To try to do that is incredible.”
Lavia has particularly caught the eye with several all-action displays in the centre of midfield against leading Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Chelsea.
The boss was also asked whether the Club had considered keeping the Belgian for the 2022/23 campaign.
“There was an opportunity but we got a good offer for him and his development and we have an option in the future just in case,” he said.
“All of them we were impressed when they were here. We want to have them but at the moment they have an opportunity to play in Academy or the Premier League, what are you going to do?
“You have to go and express yourself. It’s a huge opportunity playing in Premier League at this age. It’s massive.”
Having become Southampton’s undisputed first choice goalkeeper, Bazunu has also attracted attention from across the game.
The shot stopper spent last season on loan with League One club Portsmouth and has become a regular in the Republic of Ireland’s national squad.
On Bazunu, Guardiola detailed exactly what City’s academy saw that made him an exciting prospect.
He said: “We were incredibly impressed before we loaned him, when he trained with us, we were impressed with his personality. How he kept the back four in line. So brave, he is a top goalkeeper.
“And it’s another example of a player in our academy who has an opportunity to play in Premier League, if he is playing it is because Ralph is not stupid.
“Everyone has his own personality, some goalkeepers don’t communicate much. But he was living it - he was involved in every action.”
