Highlights have emerged of Wayne Rooney’s eldest son, Kai, making his Manchester United Under-18s debut as he strives to follow in his iconic father’s footsteps. Kai has been making waves in the Old Trafford academy for some time, with recent performances and goals grabbing lots of attention.
Given that his father broke into Everton’s first team at the age of 16 and was one of the greatest wonderkids of all time, it would be difficult for him to make the same impact so early in his career as his legendary father. However, at the age of 15, Kai has advanced to Under-18s competition, and his highlights indicate great promise.
Kai Rooney’s Under-18 Highlights
Rooney junior, wearing the number 16, made his U18 debut against Everton, one of his father’s old sides. Coming on in the 74th minute with the Red Devils leading 1-0, the youngster went straight up top and had an almost immediate impact.
While his first action resulted in him getting his feet jammed beneath the ball and being dispossessed, his second participation was nearly perfect. Rooney received the ball from the left side and maneuvered it across his body, fully selling the Everton defender before unleashing a shot on goal.
The strike cannoned off the inside of the post, and even the announcer thought Rooney had scored his debut goal until he realized it had rebounded to another United striker, who was unable to convert the follow-up.
That was the 15-year-old’s greatest chance of the game; his only other attacking participation was to surge past a defender and chase down a ball at the byline, which was eventually blocked by Everton’s goalie.
While there wasn’t much to analyze, it was evident that he shared many characteristics with his father, particularly during his youth. While Kai is left-footed, and Wayne prefers right, the quickness and force with which he moves is strikingly comparable to what the former Manchester United number 10 was known for in the early parts of his career.
Kai was also extremely aggressive in the press, harassing defenders on the right flank at one point despite playing as the central striker.
After the game, Rooney commented on Instagram, “Happy to make my U18s Premier League debut.” A good start to the season. “Ready for the next game.”
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