Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was in attendance to watch his son Kai play for the club's Under-18 side during their emphatic 6-1 victory over Derby County. The 16-year-old entered the match as a substitute after half-time and provided an assist for Noah Ajayi's goal, which completed the scoring.
Rooney was accompanied by former team-mate John O'Shea, while United interim manager Michael Carrick and coaching staff members Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate also watched on. It marked a rare public appearance for the former England captain at his son's games, having previously been asked by Kai to stop attending grassroots matches due to the attention he attracted.
Speaking in 2024, Wayne's wife Coleen revealed that Kai had told his father not to come to his games because he would get swarmed by fans. 'How do you say to all of these kids, 'Go away, I'm watching my son?' ... So he just said, 'Dad, there's no point you coming because you don't even watch me play anyway,'' she said.
Despite Wayne's presence, it was Kai's team-mates who stole the headlines. Ajayi scored twice, while Louie Bradbury and JJ Gabriel each grabbed a brace in the comprehensive win. Wayne has previously commented on the added pressure on young players at Old Trafford, particularly after Cristiano Ronaldo's return brought increased scrutiny to the youth teams.
