Kai Rooney is hoping to sign his first professional contract with Manchester United in the near future after the club banned him from doing one thing
Kai Rooney plays for Manchester United’s U16s and U18s(Image: Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney has spoken out after his son Kai was banned by Manchester United from wearing his sponsored football boots. Kai, 16, is following in his dad’s legendary footsteps, having been part of United’s youth set up since he was 11.
He certainly has big boots to fill given Wayne is United’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances, with five Premier League titles and a Champions League winners’ medal to his name after his 13 years at Old Trafford.
But the left-footed teenager is showing promise in the academy ranks, playing as a forward like the former England captain himself. Kai, whose progress has been closely watched by fans and the media, has already landed a commercial deal, signing a boot deal with Puma when he was just 12 years of age in 2022.
However, Wayne recently revealed his son is not getting any preferential treatment in the United academy. He explained how Kai is banned from wearing his Puma boots for the U16s due to a club policy.
Wayne said on The Smith Brothers: Not A Podcast: “He’s obviously with Puma but when he plays for the Manchester United U16s, something which I really like is he can’t wear his Puma boots.
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“All the academy have to wear the same boots. They do it because there’s people from areas where they can’t afford certain boots so I think it’s really good.
“But he’s played for the U18s a few times and he can then wear his Puma boots. He’s doing well to be fair to him.”
Kai’s dad is Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney(Image: Getty Images)
Kai began playing for United’s U18s this season at the age of 15, a few months before his birthday in November. He made his debut as a substitute during their 1-0 win against his father’s boyhood club, Everton, at Finch Farm back in August.
He then came off the bench in their next match and scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win over Middlesbrough at Carrington. However, he suffered an injury during the opening weeks of this season and only recently returned to the pitch for Darren Fletcher’s team, scoring on his return.
The teenager can’t wear his Puma boots in some matches(Image: Getty Images)
Wayne has three other sons with his wife Coleen – Klay, Kit and Cass. Like his older brother, Klay is also on United’s books, while Cass plays for Everton’s academy like Wayne did as a youngster. Their third son Kit has ‘retired’ from football already.
Kai remains focused on reaching the pinnacle of football, however, recently telling The Talent Hunter on Instagram where he hopes to be in five years. He said: “Playing on the biggest stage amongst the best players, winning trophies.”
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