Coleen Rooney has revealed that her son Kai once left her questioning whether a career in football was the right choice after he danced on the pitch. The 16-year-old currently plays for Manchester United's Under-18s, where he hopes to eventually break into the first team and follow in the footsteps of his father, Wayne, at Old Trafford.
That is no easy feat, given that Wayne Rooney is United's all-time leading goal-scorer and a former Champions League winner. However, the teenager is carving out a career of his own with the Red Devils since re-joining the club's youth ranks at the age of 11.
Scholarship milestone
The youngster recently reached an important career milestone, signing a first-year scholarship contract with United, which will allow him to continue studying while pursuing a career in football. But his mother recalls a time when the talented forward's future was less certain.
Coleen revealed during a recent on-air interview with Hits Radio that Kai, the eldest of her four sons, could have very easily pursued a career in hip-hop dancing instead. She told a story about his childhood where he ultimately chose a path in football, like Wayne, but she almost regretted her decision when he began performing Michael Jackson's dance moves on the pitch.
Dancing dilemma
She said: "When Kai was younger he loved dancing. He was in an all-boys hip hop dance group and it came to the crunch because he had to decide between dancing and football because they all happened on the same day.
"One time, he was in goal, I just looked around and he had one glove on doing the Michael Jackson dance in goal. I was thinking, 'Why? Is he wasting my time?'
"However, the coach was like, 'As long as he enjoys his time here, just keep bringing him. It's fine.' And look how it's turned out now."
Meanwhile, Wayne said: "I'm so proud watching him. We've never pushed him to go into football, it's what he wants to do. I grew up in a council estate in Liverpool with that desire and hunger to become a footballer.
"He's grown up in a different area and a different time, a bit more privileged with what we can give him. But the fact he's got that hunger and desire to go and play football, I'm so proud. And he's done well, he's got a long term contract with the club."
Next steps
The next big step in Rooney's career would be to sign a professional deal when he turns 17. He was dealt a huge blow at the back end of last season with an injury which led him to miss United's FA Youth Cup final, which they lost to neighbours Manchester City.
