When you’re the son of Wayne Rooney, you best prepare for the inevitable comparisons if you go down the path of professional football. And sure enough, Manchester United fans are now already hailing the second coming of the club legend, who scored 253 goals in a trophy laden 13-year period at Old Trafford.
Kai Rooney, 14, has been with United’s youth academy since 2016, and the latest footage of the youngster has had supporters reminiscing about his famous father.
On a video posted on TikTok by the RH Elite Coaching account, Rooney Jnr is seen displaying quick feet during a training drill before practicing his finishing from 20 yards out.
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Using both feet, he’s shown whipping a series of shots into the top corners, frequently leaving the keeper helpless. The video was reposted on X by the @UtdFaithfuls account, with the caption: “Kai Rooney's shooting technique is so impressive, and I love how he uses both feet.”
And amid a series of posts praising the young star, the United faithful all began making the same analogy. “Like father like son literally,” wrote @MainnooUTD, while @RMFC_Jude added: “Boy has learnt from his dad.”
@jamaleshinloye1 posted: “Growing up to be like his father” and @Castellanox implied the youngster was already on the path to greatness: “Rooney legacy continues!! Wish him an amazing career ahead!”
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The club’s record goalscorer himself has previously been reluctant to look too far ahead when discussing his son, and said it would be up to United themselves to decide if he is eventually worthy of a senior contract. “I think it’s too early to say, you never know,” he told Gary Neville on The Overlap.
“I think he’s showing potential and good signs. So he’s obviously he’ll be at United now for the next two years and that’s when they make decisions on you so just wait and see.”
Rooney also played down the inevitable comparisons between the playing styles of the pair, arguing his eldest son had different attributes to the ones that signified his own iconic career. “My physique, but he’ll be taller than me and he’s a goalscorer, he’s in the box, he sniffs chances out and that’s his game, so he’s doing okay.”
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The 38-year-old is likely to be wary of past examples of United players who have followed in the footsteps on famous fathers. Darren Ferguson, son of Sir Alex, spent four years under his dad at Old Trafford, but made just 28 league appearances before being sold to Wolves.
And there was much excitement when Jordi Cruyff joined the Red Devils after an impressive Euro 96. But the son of the Dutch icon Johan endured an injury plagued four years with the club, playing just 34 times in the top flight.
