Christopher Samba enveloped his son Floyd in a huge hug and then began whispering in the teenager's right ear as a posse of Manchester City fans behind tried to eavesdrop.
"He was just saying he was very proud but it was only the beginning," Floyd explained. "That I have to carry on strong now."
Floyd Samba had just scored twice on his debut for City and had a hand in another goal in a 5-0 romp over Norwich in the Carabao Cup.
The whole family had been there to witness it. Floyd's brothers, Tyrone, 18, and 12-year-old Emerson, both of whom also play in City's academy, mum Theresa, who was almost in tears before kick-off as the emotion of the occasion overcame her, and one of his uncles as well as a host of friends. "To see their support was amazing," he said. "They've always supported me throughout my whole life."
But it was those words from his father that really resonated and, in many respects, encapsulated the quiet, positive messaging Chris and Theresa have been reinforcing for years in their children.
Samba snr, of course, knows a thing or two about what Floyd and his siblings are going through now.
The former Congo centre-back made more than 350 career appearances for club and country, including a five-year spell at Blackburn Rovers, and is well versed in the ups and downs of being a professional footballer.
"I think it gives us a big advantage because obviously he's been through the game and everything," Floyd said. "He knows how to deal with it when things go wrong. He knows everything [about it], so he's always given us advice and I think that helped me."
At the same time, Floyd is the first to admit that his journey to this point is very different to the road his father had to travel.
Born in Paris , Samba snr then lived on the estates of Rouen, around 80 miles from the French capital, and lost his mother when he was just five years old.
After a series of disagreements with his own father, Chris left home at 15 and began rough sleeping, including in the local parks.
He would end up moving in with an aunt on a notorious estate and flirted with the wrong crowd before eventually heading for Sedan, only for a fractured fibula to derail hopes of becoming a footballer. It was an impromptu call from the Democratic Republic of Congo, his parents' country of birth, that would change everything after a period when he was working as a delivery driver and doubting himself.
"It's amazing because obviously he had to sacrifice a lot," Floyd said. "It was much harder for him than it was for us. If you look at it, we got it easy and he got it really hard, so he knows how it is. It's really inspiring.
"I think my dad's done a good job in helping all of us, as a player, as a person and the character and mentality. It's helped all of us."
Chris Samba fought through hardship to make 171 Premier League appearances as a central defender - Reuters/Nigel Roddis
It is at this moment that Floyd also makes a point of highlighting how important his mum has been, not least constantly ferrying three boys to and from training and matches.
"I can't forget her because she's done everything, brought us to training every day," he said. "She's sacrificed everything for all three of us, and she's still doing that with Emerson now as well. It's so inspiring because she's so hard-working every day, even when she's not feeling like it or feels tired, she'll always be there for us no matter what it is. I think she's the number one fan of all of us. She's amazing."
Theresa and Tyrone were wearing City shirts with Floyd's No 75 on the back as they watched on from the stands at the Etihad Stadium while younger brother, Emerson, who is a centre-back like his dad, was loving the occasion.
Floyd played alongside Tyrone, a forward, in City's FA Youth Cup final victory over Manchester United last season. Emerson is making strides with the under-13s. It is fair to say it is a competitive household.
"It used to be really bad!" Floyd said, laughing. "We used to get so mad. We used to play in the garden all the time. With Emerson I still do a bit as well in the garden when I've got time. Yes, it's really competitive."
Emerson, it seems, will not shy away from taking on his two elder brothers. "Definitely! He's aggressive and he's so tall as well," Floyd said. "He's only 12 and he's already up to my shoulder, so he's an aggressive player and defender.
"But we pick each other up all the time. That's the main thing, to support each other whenever we're down, help each other, and whenever the other's doing well, be proud of them, congratulate each other. It's just how it's been all the time."
Floyd played as a centre-forward in the younger City age groups before being moved into midfield, but City manager Enzo Maresca deployed him up front against Norwich and the 17-year-old believes that formative experience was helpful.
"When I was younger, like under-8s, 9s, 10s, I was mainly a No 9. But ever since then I haven't really played 9," he said. "But obviously I have an idea of it because I think last season against Real Madrid , in the Youth League, I played 9 as well. Those little opportunities to make me improve, to play more than one position, help."
Floyd notably held off the attentions of one of Norwich's centre-backs to lay the ball off to Ayyoub Bouaddi in the lead up to City's second goal. "I think my strength helps out a lot with that, to hold up the ball. I think that's very important, especially in playing against a team like Norwich, who were really aggressive."
Maresca took Floyd on City's pre-season tour of Asia and the youngster has clearly made an impression on Pep Guardiola's successor. He found out on Tuesday he was starting.
"Obviously he [Maresca] came in at the start of the season and I was in the training group that we were all in at the start," he said. "I think everyone was new to him and all the coaching staff. So we had to make a good first impression. I think I did that. I didn't look out of place. I looked a part of the team.
"I wasn't too nervous [against Norwich]. I think once I get on the pitch, the nerves go away. It's more before the game when I feel more pressure. But once I was on the pitch, I felt good."
If Samba continues like this, there may be a clamour for his services among an assortment of different countries. He is eligible to play for England, France and Germany, through his mother – all three of whom he has already represented at youth level – and one would assume DR Congo. "I haven't chosen," he said. "I haven't stuck to one yet, but we'll see in the future. I think the opportunity will come somewhere, so I'll just have to wait for that."
