Wayne Rooney’s eldest son dreams of becoming a Manchester United regular within 10 years! Little Messi scores another world-class goal, Carrick watches on

Kai Rooney, the eldest son of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, has joined the club’s under-18 squad. The 16-year-old left-footed forward has been offered a pre-professional contract by the Red Devils. Although not yet signed, given his recently shared ambition, signing the contract seems only a matter of time. Young Rooney stated he aims to become a first-team regular at Manchester United within the next decade, just like his father.

As widely known, Rooney joined Manchester United after the 2004 European Championship and remained a key player for the team. Kai Rooney entered the Red Devils’ youth academy at the age of 11 in 2020. Initially, he played as a forward, but recently he switched to the right winger position, following the modern trend of inverted wingers in professional football.

Rooney explained, “The level of English players has improved significantly, and many are reluctant to play as a number 9. From a tactical viewpoint, even globally, traditional number 9 players have become rare. So, this is not only an issue in English football but a global shortage of genuine central strikers. Kai now cuts in from the right side; being left-footed, this style of attacking from the right is currently popular.”

Kai Rooney’s position change might also be aimed at increasing his chances of breaking into the first team. Historically, homegrown strikers at Manchester United are few, with only Mark Hughes and Danny Welbeck standing out, while most number 9 roles have been filled by expensive signings.

Regarding his long-term goals, Kai Rooney said, “Within 10 years, I hope to represent Manchester United in the Premier League—that’s my goal. To achieve this, I must work hard behind the scenes. I can play as a forward and score or operate as a winger. As long as I help the team win, I will keep doing it. I’m quite satisfied with my performances so far. Of course, I can improve, but overall, I think I’m doing pretty well.”

In the Manchester United youth team, young Rooney partners with 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who has attracted more fan attention and is dubbed “Little Messi.” Gabriel has scored 16 goals for the youth team this season. On Saturday, the Red Devils’ U18s defeated Wolves 3-1, with Gabriel scoring twice, including an especially stunning goal at the 24th minute.

Gabriel cut inside from the left wing, evading three defenders with a surprising reverse turn, then fired a powerful left-footed shot from a tight angle that struck the crossbar before going in.

MUTV commentator Liam Bradford exclaimed, “Unbelievable! What a fantastic strike. Gabriel scored from the narrowest angle, shooting the ball under the crossbar. The opponents never expected him to shoot from such a wide position.”

The match also drew close attention from Manchester United manager Carrick, who watched alongside assistant Steve Holland at the Carrington training ground. Carrick had also observed the U18s’ away victory over Oxford United in the Youth FA Cup earlier this week, where Gabriel also scored a long-range goal.

However, due to age restrictions, Gabriel cannot participate in Manchester United’s first team Premier League matches this season; his debut opportunity will come at the earliest next season. Kai Rooney is eligible to play but is unlikely to be called up to the senior squad anytime soon.

Rooney’s younger son, Klay Rooney, and Carrick’s son, Jacey Carrick, are also part of Manchester United’s youth system. Jacey Carrick is a teammate of Kai Rooney and Gabriel, all belonging to the same age group.