KAI Rooney is following in the footsteps of his superstar dad Wayne — after being offered a new deal by Manchester United.
The 16-year-old attacker, who finishes school this summer, has been in United’s academy for several years.
His dad, 40, is the Red Devils’ record goalscorer.
Kai is part of a “very strong” group of 14 footballing teens offered new deals by Manchester United — with high hopes of making it.
The talented batch of youngsters also includes Jacey Carrick, whose father Michael is now interim United manager.
Wayne and Michael, former Red Devils team-mates, were at Old Trafford last month to see Kai, 16, make his debut in the FA Youth Cup for the under-18s.
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The lad, a left-footed attacker, has been part of United’s famous academy for several years and has impressed coaches with his talents.
The Rooneys’ eldest son, who finishes school this summer, has now been offered a formal one-year scholarship by Old Trafford bosses.
The contract would then switch to a three-year pro deal, which would see him on around £50,000 a year with an annual signing-on fee.
At this stage, it is understood the Rooney family have not agreed to the deal.
A source said: “The group is very strong and the majority of the boys including Kai and Jacey have been offered deals.
“It means when they finish school they can go into full-time ‘football employment’ and then when they turn 17 are guaranteed a pro status.
“They still have a long way to go to make the grade, but they can be very proud that the club thinks they have a chance of making it.”
All the teenagers received their offers before Carrick was installed in the Old Trafford dugout following the sacking last month of Ruben Amorim.
They and their families have until July to decide whether to sign the deals. They are not under any obligation to stay and could choose to move to another club.
Last month United’s all-time record goalscorer Wayne, 40, spoke of his pride at seeing Kai play in the FA Youth Cup, coming on as a sub against Derby during a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
Mum-of-four Coleen was also there to see him playing for the first time at the Theatre of Dreams, nine years on from his father’s last game at the famous ground.
Kai got moved up to the under-18s squad for the Youth Cup and it was great to see him come on. It brought back memories of when I played in the Youth Cup for Everton.
Wayne on his pride at seeing Kai play in the FA Youth Cup
Speaking later on his BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Everton, United and England striker revealed the first thing Kai said to him on their way home was: “The pitch was massive.”
He said: “Kai got moved up to the under-18s squad for the Youth Cup and it was great to see him come on.
“It brought back memories of when I played in the Youth Cup for Everton. It was a proud moment and I’m delighted for him.
“Hopefully he continues that and he can have a good run with the team.” Kai made his debut for United’s under-18s in August last year, aged just 15.
Fittingly, the fixture came against Everton, his dad’s boyhood club.
The teen once scored a sensational goal against rivals Man City — as his father famously did.
Wayne, who made a momentous Premier League debut for Everton aged just 16, has previously spoken about Kai’s talents.
He told former United team-mate Gary Neville on The Overlap: “[He has] 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 OK.”
Neville asked him: “Obviously you can’t remember yourself, but is he at that sort of level where you think he’s got a chance, or is it too early?” Rooney replied: “I think it’s too early, you never know.
“I think he’s showing potential and good signs.”
Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn’t even watch the game.
Coleen Rooney
Kai’s brother Klay, 12, is also part of Manchester United’s youth set-up, while Cass, who turns eight later this month, is following in his father’s footsteps at Everton’s academy.
Coleen previously told in 2024 how Kai asked his dad not to come to games when he was younger as he invariably got mobbed by fans.
She said: “Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn’t even watch the game.
“How do you say to all of these kids, ‘Go away, I’m watching my son?’ Adults, it’s different, you could speak to them.
“So he just said, ‘Oh, Dad there’s no point you coming because you don’t even watch me play anyway.’ Which is sad, but it can’t be helped.”
Also in the stands for Kai’s Old Trafford bow was Carrick, who won the FA Youth Cup while a youngster at West Ham, before picking up five Premier League titles with United.
He said: “It’s such an important competition, especially for this club.
“Young players, Old Trafford under the floodlights, feeling what it means, a bit of expectation.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the young boys to go and take the next step. We’re all fully behind them.”
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In August 2024 Kai gave a rare interview about his football career, saying: “I’m trying to make a name for myself, not try and be my dad because I’m my own person.
“I want to see how my career goes, obviously try to do the best I can and try to reach the biggest stages.
“I’m just focusing on me and to try to not let any pressure get to me and just keep working on me day by day, month by month.”
His dad scored 253 goals across all competitions for United after joining them from Everton in 2004.
He won five league titles, a Champions League trophy, the Europa League and numerous domestic cups before leaving in 2017 to return to Everton.
Now a TV pundit after a period in management, he is third on the Premier League’s all-time list with 208 strikes – behind Alan Shearer on 260 and Harry Kane on 213.
Man United have a long tradition of bringing players into the first team from the youth set-up, including the legendary Busby Babes, and the “Class of 92”, which featured David Beckham, Paul Scholes and other future stars.
Exclusive by Richard Moriarty
MAN United’s players are determined to keep winning — so a fan can finally get a haircut.
Frank Ilett, 29, has gone almost 500 days without a trim after pledging to wait until United won five games in a row, and he now has a huge curly mane.
After three stunning wins against Man City, Arsenal and Fulham, United face Spurs next tomorrow. A source said: “The players are well aware of Frank because he pops up on their social media. Some were having a laugh and said, ‘Come on, let’s give this guy a haircut’.”
Oxford-born Frank, who now lives in Spain, has said: “I didn’t expect it to go on this long.”
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