Kai Rooney, the 16-year-old son of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, has dismissed reports claiming he was offered a lucrative contract by the club. The teenager took to Instagram to refute the claims, writing: 'Don't listen to mail' with laughing face emojis.
The Sun had reported that Rooney was offered an initial one-year scholarship, set to become a three-year professional deal worth around £50,000-a-week, plus an annual signing-on fee. The report suggested the offer had been accepted by the Rooney family, but Kai quickly denied it.
Rooney, who joined United's youth set-up at age 11, has been making strides in the academy. He made his Old Trafford debut for the Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup in January. Despite comparisons to his father, he has impressed while rising through the ranks, playing as a right winger.
Off the pitch, Rooney has signed with Triple S Sports Management, the agency run by his father's former agent Paul Stretford. He also has a boot deal with Puma, signed in 2022 after a 56-goal season. However, his father revealed that Kai cannot wear his Puma boots for the Under-16s due to a club policy requiring all academy players to wear the same boots.
Wayne Rooney praised the policy, saying it ensures no player is disadvantaged by the cost of footwear. Kai is allowed to wear his Puma boots when playing for the Under-18s.
