Wayne Rooney is no stranger to football’s highs and lows, but now his eldest son Kai is experiencing them first-hand the hard way.
Wayne Rooney’s son Kai is also establishing a reputation for himself(Image: GettyImages)
Wayne Rooney’s eldest son Kai has declared ‘life can’t get worse’ after suffering a devastating injury whilst playing for Manchester United’s youth team. Rooney, 35, won countless trophies at Old Trafford and is desperate for his 15-year-old son to follow in his footsteps.
Sadly, the only steps young Kai will be making in the coming days will be with crutches following an injury. Prior to the setback, Kai had been enjoying a rapid rise at his father’s former club.
He was recently called up to the United Under-19s squad where he was competing alongside fellow talents who are four years older than him, the Mirror reports. Soon after, he made his mark with the Under-18s, scouring a brilliant left-footed volley into the top corner.
Unfortunately, the momentum he had built will now have to be regained as he is set for a period on the sidelines. Kai shared a mirror selfie of himself revealing the protective boot he has strapped to his right foot. The image had text overlaying, which read: “Life can’t get worse” alongside a crying emoji.
It’s a post which will strike a chord with every footballer who has suffered a bad injury throughout their career. The extent of his injury or when he will be able to play again is currently unknown.
Kai’s post would make any football fan feel sorry for him(Image: Instagram/kairooney.10)
However the tone of the post suggests he may be out for a long time, cheering his team on from the sidelines. Altough he hasn’t yet reached the skill level of his legendary father, Kai has already shown plenty of promise and has some excitement surrounding him.
He typically takes up a central position for United, much like his dad, but he has also shone in wider positions. The 15-year-old particularly stood out while playing for the Red Devils in the Super Cup NI in Northern Ireland earlier this summer.
Wayne also made his mark in a similar tournament when he was an eager young prospect at Everton. Rooney watched Kai’s performances alongside wife Coleen and his younger sons Kit and Cass.
The former England captain was recently asked to explain any influence he has had on Kai’s budding football career.
Rather than feeding him with advice, the Reds’ all-time top goal-scorer is letting Kai play the game the way he wants too.
Kai has already been compared with his iconic father(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
In a previous interview with BBC Sport, Rooney said: “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.”
“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,” he continued.
Kai has been part of the United academy since he was 11. He joined the Red Devils’ youth system in 2020, where his playing style has stirred up memories of his famous father’s performances at Old Trafford.
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