Kai Rooney enjoyed another fine display for Manchester United's U18s, but he marked one of his goals with a curious celebration
Kai Rooney celebrating a goal
Man Utd starlet Kai Rooney was in excellent form again (Image: Getty)
Kai Rooney appeared to have a dig at Manchester United team-mate JJ Gabriel while celebrating a goal. Rooney, 16, is beginning to establish himself as one of United's most promising young stars. The son of former England and United captain Wayne Rooney helped himself to four goals in a dominant 6-0 victory over Burnley for the Reds' U18s. He marked his second goal by copying Gabriel's celebration.
His fellow young United star is currently at odds with the club, after sending a formal notice of intention to cancel his registration, which would essentially make him a free agent.
He has not featured, at any level, for the Red Devils since he stunned the club with his request. With the 15-year-old still at an impasse with United, Rooney's celebration for his second goal, which saw him put his arm across his face and do a gun finger in a similar manner to Gabriel, could be interpreted as a dig at his wantaway team-mate.
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Only Rooney would know if he was taking a swipe at Gabriel. Either way, it was another strong performance from the former England captain's son. Unlike his famous father, Rooney plays on the right-wing, where he can cut onto his favoured left-foot and influence play.
Despite sharing the same name, his playing style is completely different to his old man. Wayne's former team-mate Darren Fletcher, who is in charge of the U18s side, reserved some extra credit for the teenage prospect.
He told MUTV: "We play attacking football, I know it is in the club’s identity and the DNA. We want to play fast, direct, attacking football but there is a lot more controlled possession element, that is just the way football is going these days.
JJ Gabriel
Rooney mocked Gabriel's celebration (Image: Getty)
"When you attack quickly, fluidly, get people into the box who make really good decisions. The key to football is decision-making, so when we got into the final third, the decision-making was brilliant today.
"Whether you pass, whether you cross, you shoot or use your teammate, whether you are running to make space for your teammate, all that decision-making has been fantastic, and I keep challenging them to do that.
"A really good performance from everyone, but obviously Kai getting four goals, he deserves it, he has obviously had a lot of injury problems, so to come back and do that was good.”Rooney will be in action again on Saturday, when the Under-18s side face Blackburn Rovers.