Wayne Rooney’s eldest son Kai was enjoying a breakout season in Manchester United’s academy before suffering an injury
Wayne Rooney’s 15-year-old son, Kai, has given fans an update on his recovery from injury following a devastating setback at Manchester United earlier this year. The eldest son of the United icon is keen to follow in his dad’s illustrious footsteps, but was dealt a blow when he suffered an injury, lamenting: ‘Life couldn’t get any worse.’
Clearly inheriting his father’s love for football, the young talent has been turning heads with his performances for United’s youth teams this season. He made a splash during the Super Cup NI in Northern Ireland earlier this summer, a tournament where his dad also made his mark as a young player at Everton.
Kai was on a rapid ascent, earning a call-up to United’s Under-19s side, where he held his own against professionals four-years his senior.
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Before that promotion, he’d netted a stunning goal for the Under-18s, a left-footed volley that found the top corner, echoing some of his dad’s memorable strikes.
Earlier this year, Kai posted a photo on social media showing his right foot in a boot, but has now updated followers on his progress.
Now, posting on Instagram, he shared two snaps enjoying some relaxation time in Dubai, with his foot no longer in a protective boot.
The youngster captioned the pictures: “Recovering” followed by an emoji shrouded in smoke.
The exact nature of his injury remains unclear, though the photos suggest he may be nearing a return to the pitch.
The young lad typically plays in a central attacking role, much like his father Wayne, but is also capable of playing on either flank.
In a chat with BBC Sport about his son’s footballing journey, Rooney shared: “I just let him play. I think they started the competition well, they won 3-0, he scored the penalty and got an assist.
“So I think he started OK. He just plays and that’s all he’s done during his time playing. I think it’s very unfair for anyone to expect him to go and do all kinds. He’s just playing, he’s a 15-year-old boy playing his football, enjoying it.
“Of course he gets different attention to a lot of his team-mates but I think he handles that really well.”
Rooney also praised the coaching staff at United, stating: “He has great coaches at Manchester United, so I take a stand off approach.
“I speak to him, but for me it’s all about his mentality and his mindset, to make sure he keeps enjoying it – that’s the main thing for me.”
Rooney’s eldest lad has been part of the United academy since he was 11-years-old, having joined the youth set up in 2020.
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