How Kai Rooney is following in his father Wayne Rooney's football boots: Boy wonder, scored 56 goals for Man United's youth team last season

Wayne Rooney is one of the finest Manchester United players of all time. During his 13-year tenure at Old Trafford, he has won five Premier League championships, and one Champions League, and scored 253 goals. When he departed the club in 2017 to return to Everton, fans believed the chant of "Roooney, Roooney" would no longer be heard throughout the stadium. However, a new Rooney has emerged: Kai Rooney, Wayne's son, who is 13 years old.

In December 2020, Kai Rooney registered with Manchester United's academy. After spending some time with Manchester City's youth teams, United's academy soon took notice of him. Some admirers were sceptical of his signing, believing that he had been chosen because of his father's fame. However, Kai soon disproved their assumptions.

Kai scored 56 goals in his first complete season with the United under-12s while playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. Throughout the season, he recorded 28 assists, demonstrating the altruistic nature of his play. He is a goal scorer and the team's most creative player, similar to his father's playing manner.

In July 2021, Kai signed a sponsorship agreement with footwear titans Puma after his exploits attracted the attention of major brands. Since then, he has appeared on a Puma advertisement poster alongside City defender Kyle Walker and music star Dua Lipa. When Kai signed his Puma contract, he had 55.4K Instagram followers, but that number has since doubled to 110K.

Kai frequently updates his followers on his burgeoning football career, but he also promotes sports and fashion brands, including Cricket, his mother Coleen's favorite clothing store. If things don't work out on the field, Kai could thrive as a social media influencer, but there are a few concerns about this happening at the moment.

Success Rising for Kai Rooney

In November, during a kickabout in Dubai, Kai was recorded leaving three opponents in a heap on the ground before scoring a magnificent individual goal. Kai's performance has improved dramatically this season. He is following in his father's footsteps by making opposing players appear naive, especially in his early days on the scene.

Kai has also demonstrated that he can elevate his game against United's most formidable rivals. He scored all four goals in a 5-4 loss to Liverpool last season before scoring again in a 2-0 victory over City in the final of the under-13 National Cup North in March.

In 2011, Wayne Rooney struck an iconic bicycle kick against Manchester City at Old Trafford. Last month, Kai scored against City in the under-13 National Cup North final.

Kai Rooney's Future Ambitions

Rooney Jr., like his father, is a devoted Evertonian. However, when it comes to his future aspirations, Kai envisions playing for only one club. Last month, he stated, 'In 10 years, I expect to be playing in the Premier League for Manchester United… that's where I see myself, but I have to make it happen through hard work and everything else behind the scenes.

Kai Rooney has a long way to go before he can play for United's senior team, but he has aspirations to do so in the future. He is excelling at one of the nation's top academies and is moving in the correct direction. If he maintains his current trajectory, the chant "Roooney" could return to Old Trafford in a few years in the Premier League.