Kai Rooney, the 13-year-old son of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, is making significant strides at the club's academy, three years after signing his youth contract. The youngster has already shown impressive form, scoring 56 goals and providing 28 assists in the 2021-22 season, and continuing to shine last season with a hat-trick in a 5-4 loss to Liverpool and a goal in a 2-0 win over City in the under-13 National Cup North final.
Despite sceptics who questioned whether his signing was based on ability rather than his famous surname, Kai has proven his worth on the pitch. He has also embraced the commercial side of football, signing a sponsorship deal with Puma in July 2022 and building an Instagram following of over 110,000, where he promotes brands and showcases his skills.
Unlike his father, who grew up as an Everton fan, Kai has made clear his ambition to play for Manchester United. In June, he stated: 'In 10 years, hopefully I will be playing in the Premier League for Man United. That’s where I see myself but I’ve got to make it happen with the hard work and everything behind the scenes.'
Wayne Rooney scored 253 goals in 559 games for United, winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup, one Europa League and one Champions League. Kai is now aiming to follow in his father's footsteps at Old Trafford.
