Wayne Rooney opened up about the guidance he's given his sons in their footballing education while his eldest, Kai, announced an injury he suffered
Manchester United's Kai Rooney in action during the Under 18 Premier League between Manchester United U18s and Middlesbrough U18s at Carrington Training Ground on August 23, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Kai Rooney took to Instagram to reveal he's suffered a lower leg injury
(Image: Anthony Devlin/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney has revealed the footballing wisdom he's been sharing with his children as his eldest son, Kai, battles through injury woes.
The 15-year-old, who plies his trade as a Manchester United youth prospect, has been treading the same path as his legendary father by representing the Red Devils and has recently secured his place in the club's Under-19s setup, showcasing the talent he harbours.
Nevertheless, the youngster's progress - which included netting a stunning left-footed volley for the Under-18s - has been cruelly interrupted after he posted a mirror selfie on Instagram revealing himself on crutches whilst sporting a protective boot on his right foot.
Kai, 15, accompanied the image with the caption: "Life can't get worse," adding a crying emoji to the heartfelt message, indicating he's sustained an injury during his time with United's academy.
Whilst the specifics of the injury or the duration of his layoff remain unconfirmed, it's unclear when the promising talent might make his comeback, reports the Mirror. It was back in 2020 when he initially linked up with the United youth system at the tender age of 11, and whilst he typically operates through the middle, mirroring Rooney Sr, he's displayed adaptability with his displays out wide.
Beyond the tuition he's receiving at United, he benefits from having someone at home with an abundance of footballing expertise – his father. During Friday's instalment of The Wayne Rooney Show, the 39-year-old explored the advice he offered his sons regarding enhancing their footballing abilities.
Wayne Rooney posing with son Kai
Kai Rooney is battling an injury as per his Instagram
"I'm quite lucky where I live as I've got a little pitch there and when the kids say, 'we're coming on the pitch', all they're gonna do is tie the balls on the top corner," he told Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kelly Somers and Kae Kurd.
"So when I say to them when I was younger, I remember setting a little square to practice passing into it and just playing off the wall. So I'm very similar, [I tell them] 'you need to work on your speed, you need to work on your technique and control.' Otherwise, you go out and you're just like, 'watch me hit the ball in the top corner'."
Despite offering guidance to his children regarding football over the years, the former England skipper confessed he favours letting Kai develop naturally in the sport without receiving continuous input from him.
Wayne Rooney speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show
The Manchester United legend delved into the advice he used to give his children when it came to football
Chatting with BBC Sport during the Super Cup NI tournament in Northern Ireland, Rooney explained: "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." Following his departure from Plymouth Argyle last year after merely 25 matches at the helm, Rooney has not yet made his comeback to management.