Kai Rooney, the 16-year-old son of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, is eagerly anticipating the upcoming season, posting on social media, "Roll on pre-season." The young forward, who missed the final months of the 2025/26 season due to injury, is determined to make his mark after Michael Carrick was confirmed as the club's new permanent manager in May.
Injury setback and recovery
Rooney Jr. made his Under-18s debut in January and went on to make six appearances at that level, including a debut at age 15 in a 1-0 victory over Everton in August. However, a season-ending injury in March ruled him out of United's FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City, which United lost 2-1. He has since shared photos of himself hitting the gym and resting, signaling his readiness for the new campaign.
Puma boot policy and Wayne Rooney's support
In a boost for the young star, he will be permitted to wear his sponsored Puma boots for United next season. Previously, he was barred from wearing them at U16 level due to club policy requiring all academy players to wear identical footwear. Rooney celebrated his 16th birthday before the August 31 cut-off, meaning he now steps up to age groups where the rule does not apply. He signed the sponsorship deal with Puma at age 12 in 2022.
Wayne Rooney, United's all-time top scorer, expressed his support for the club's policy on The Smith Brothers: Not A Podcast. He said: "He's obviously with Puma, but when he plays for the Manchester United U16s, something which I really like is he can't wear his Puma boots. All the academy have to wear the same boots. They do it because there's people from areas where they can't afford certain boots so I think it's really good. But he's played for the U18s a few times and he can then wear his Puma boots. He's doing well to be fair to him."
Kai Rooney's ambitions
In an interview with The Talent Hunter on Instagram, Kai Rooney outlined his goals for the future. When asked where he sees himself in five years, he said: "Playing on the biggest stage amongst the best players, winning trophies."
