Wayne Rooney's son Kai is hoping to follow in his father's footsteps and break into the Man Utd first-team.
Wayne Rooney pictured with his son, Kai, during an event last year.
Wayne Rooney pictured with his son, Kai, during an event last year.(Image: JMEnternational/Getty Images)
Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney's son Kai has reached a major milestone in his development at the club after making his U18 Premier League debut on Saturday.
Despite being just 15 years of age, United named the youngster among their substitutes for a U18 fixture against Everton. United would win the game 1-0 - owing to Amir Ibragimov's penalty in the first half - making it a positive start to their campaign.
Taking to Instagram to mark the occasion, Rooney Jr. shared his delight at progressing into the U18s. "Happy to make U18s Premier League debut," he wrote.
"Good start to the season, ready for the next game." While United fans will be daring to dream that Rooney will follow in his father's footsteps, the former Everton and Derby County striker has been keen not to put too much pressure on his son's shoulders.
"He just plays, that's what he's always done," Rooney Sr. said previously.
"It's unfair to expect too much - he's only 15.
"But he handles the pressure of his surname very well." Despite being a young teenager, Kai has already had to put up with a lot on the pitch just because of who his father is.
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"A few years ago, I remember my son Kai took a penalty at St George's Park, where we were for a tournament," his mum Coleen told Stick to Football podcast from Sky Bet.
"It went to penalties, Kai stepped up and then he just skied it.
"Afterwards I asked him how he could take a penalty like that, and he told me he was fuming as the goalkeeper was saying: 'Your dad's s***', and he got dead angry. It doesn't happen to him very often, but it did then, and you can see in some games where they give you a little push.
"He's strong-minded, though, and usually shrugs it off."
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