Kai Rooney, the 16-year-old son of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, responded to his Under-21s debut disappointment by scoring for the club's U18s the following day.
Rooney made his Premier League 2 debut on Friday for United's development squad against Nottingham Forest at Loughborough University. He was brought on with 12 minutes remaining, with the score at 2-2, but Forest scored late to win 3-2.
The defeat was United's first in Premier League 2 this campaign, having won their opening three fixtures against Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Brentford.
Quick Turnaround and Goal
Despite the setback, Rooney started for the U18s the next day, also against Nottingham Forest. He scored in the first half to give United the lead but was substituted in the 66th minute. Forest equalised in the 78th minute, and the match finished 1-1.
After the double header, Rooney shared a picture of his celebration on social media with the caption: "back on the scoresheet."
Recent Debuts and Contract
Rooney made his U19s debut last week, coming on as a second-half substitute in the UEFA Youth League clash against Atletico Madrid, which United lost 3-0. He signed a two-year scholarship with the club in July, which can become a three-year professional deal worth around £50,000 per year plus an annual signing-on fee.
Family Matters
His mum, Coleen, previously revealed on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2024 that Kai had banned his dad from watching him play. She said: "Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games, when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn't even watch the game."
Wayne has since been spotted at matches, suggesting the ban has been lifted.
