Kai Rooney handed potential Manchester United first team opening

Wayne Rooney is a Manchester United legend of the highest order and his eldest son, 16-year-old Kai, is looking to follow in the footsteps of the club’s all-time top goalscorer.

A teenage sensation when he arrived from Everton in 2004, the former Old Trafford striker went on to play 559 times for the club, netting 253 strikes in the process.

It’ll take some doing for Kai to emulate the brilliance of his father, who was adored by all at the Theatre of Dreams.

Though, it must be noted that there are not many players that have graced Old Trafford with utter magic like Rooney did between 2004 and 2017.

The youngster will no doubt try his best and he’s enjoyed a brilliant year in the club’s youth ranks, often finding the back of the net for the Under-18s and becoming a first-year scholar as a result.

Yet to sign his first professional contract, Rooney Jr will be able to put pen to paper on senior terms next season.

Not only that but the club are understood to be planning his integration into first-team proceedings in 2026/27.

According to The Mirror, Kai could be given the chance to impress at a senior level this summer as he will be involved in the club’s pre-season plans should he return from injury in time.

Still just 16 years of age, he won the Premier League Shield with the Under-16s recently.

Later, though, he announced that he had suffered a season-ending injury. Taking to Instagram to share the news, he wrote: “Disappointed to be out for the rest of the season. Back stronger pre-season.”

The promising centre-forward (and not just because of his name!) has gone from strength to strength at Carrington this term, scoring plenty of goals and wreaking havoc for defenders.

Not only is Rooney’s son expected to be involved but the report suggests that Manchester United are planning to include many a young talent in their pre-season tour in Europe.

As of now, the first team – either managed by Michael Carrick or his permanent replacement – will jet off to Scandinavia and other nations across the continent as they prepare for the 2026/27 season.

On a typical pre-season tour, United kick off proceedings with the first week of July being spent at Carrington – but the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19, complicates matters this time around.

World-beating academy prospect JJ Gabriel is expected to join Kai in linking up with first-teamer such as Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes.

Gabriel, viewed as a superstar-level talent by those at the club, has already trained with the senior side and Carrick has sung his praises by calling him a “big talent”.