How Kai Rooney is progressing at Man Utd three years on from signing youth contract

Club record goalscorer Wayne Rooney forged a legendary career at Man United, and now the pressure in on teenage son Kai to follow in his footsteps at Old Trafford

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Kai Rooney is only 13 years of age, but there is already a feeling of ‘like father, like son’ amongst Manchester United fans as he continues to progress at Old Trafford.

Dad Wayne scored 253 goals in 559 games for the Red Devils, the most of any player ever to represent the world-famous club. And he eventually returned to Everton in 2017 following a 13-year stint in Manchester that yielded five Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup, one Europa League and one Champions League crown.

It was perhaps of little surprise then, that his eldest son was to try and pursue his own career in professional football. He’s currently just three years younger than Wayne was when he produced that memorable moment in Everton colours – curling a last minute winner past David Seaman to announce his arrival in English football.

And nearly three years on from signing for the United academy, Rooney Jnr is also on the right path……

Silencing the doubters

Kai was just 11 when in December 2020, he was pictured signing on the dotted line for the club his father once graced with stunning success.

For the sceptics, the news was cannon fodder. Fingers were immediately pointed amid accusations that the then Primary School child was simply being taken on because of name and not ability.

But the cynics will now be sweating. In June 2022, Kai revealed via his Instagram account that the previous campaign and seen him notch 56 goals and 28 assists in all competitions for the academy side. And last season didn’t go badly either, showcasing an ability to both create and score goals, striking four times in a 5-4 loss to Liverpool and scoring in a 2-0 win over City in the under-13 National Cup North final.

Kai is following in his dad’s footsteps

HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Kai Rooney under too much pressure to succeed at Man United? Comment below.

Handling the limelight

Maybe having a world-famous dad can come in handy when it comes to dealing with global exposure.

But rather than be plagued by endorsement offers and social media frenzy, the teenager has instead embraced the concepts. In July last year, he signed a sponsorship deal with Puma, and has racked up an Instagram following of more than 110,000 people.

He uses the account to plug the famous trainer brand, as well as numerous sports and fashion companies. And there’s also plenty of flashes of his football skills to marvel at as well.

Kai Rooney’s attempting a scissor kick triggers memories of a famous goal his dad scored for United (

Image:

@kairooney.10) Ultimate ambition

Rather than a shy boy pushed towards a career in football, Kai comes across as an individual determined to forges his own path.

But while his father grew up dreaming of a career based at Goodison Park, famously celebrating a goal by revealing a t-shirt that read ‘Once a blue always a blue’, his son has other ideas. There is only one place he sees himself that as he seeks to rise through the ranks.

“In 10 years, hopefully I will be playing in the Premier League for Man United,” he told reporters in June. “That’s where I see myself but I’ve got to make it happen with the hard work and everything behind the scenes.”