There is nothing like the son of a Manchester United legend bursting onto the scene to make you painfully aware of your own mortality.
Red Devils supporters from way back in the 1990s will wince at the thought of Kasper Schmeichel – the offspring of iconic goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel – preparing for his 38th birthday.
Fans who grew up in the naughties, meanwhile, will remember when a teenage duo of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were taking the Premier League by storm.
Flash forward two decades, while Cristiano Jr is honing his talents at Al-Nassr over in Saudi Arabia, the trophy bug is biting Kai Rooney in Manchester United’s own youth ranks.
Alongside Jacey Carrick – son of Michael – Kai Rooney played a starring role as Man United’s Under 14 side became Albert Phelan National Champions back in May.
Excitement has been growing about the prospect of another Rooney wearing United red in recent times. Particularly after Wayne’s eldest plundered a record-breaking 56 goals at Under 12 level.
Did we mention he produced 28 assists too?
Kai Rooney hopes to follow Manchester United legend Wayne
Clearly, while emulating the remarkable success of United and England’s all-time top scorer will take some doing, Kai has inherited his father’s pinpoint finishing skills.
And with Carrington continuing to churn out potential first-team talent at a remarkable rate – Ethan Wheatley became the 250th academy player to make his senior debut last season – who is to say Kai Rooney cannot join those ranks should he maintain his current rate of progress?
“No, I think United are good,” Rooney Jr tells Lovell Soccer when asked if he struggles with the expectation attached to representing arguably European football’s most feted academy.
“They don’t put too much pressure on us. They treat us just like we’re coming in to play football.”
Kai is certainly not short of potential idols.
Everton graduate Wayne might not have risen through the ranks at Carrington, but current first-team stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford certainly did.
“Obviously, you see on the walls in the academy building the likes of Rashford, Lingard players like like Giggs and Beckham,” the teenager adds.
“Yeah, it’s good to see those faces because it motivates you more to see people who were in the same position that we were in; year by year getting closer to the first-team.
“It just motivates us more and more and makes us want to be there.”
Speaking to The Overlap recently, Wayne told former Man United team-mate Gary Neville that Kai was showing ‘potential’ and ‘good signs’ at youth level.
Alongside his nose for goal, Kai appears to share his dad’s penchant for a crunching tackle too, leading the line with familiar aggression and determination.
Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba are his favourites
“Even just from going to watch him play, it was just incredible and something that I knew I wanted to do” Kai adds, having spent much of his childhood watching his father strike fear into the heart of even the game’s finest centre-halves.
“Hearing the crowd chant his name, it was just amazing to see it. When I started playing, its always been my aim to be like my dad.”
When asked to name his favourite ever forwards, however, Kai spoke not about any of Rooney’s old Man United strike partners but instead two generation-defining talismen who scored their fair share against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
“I liked (Thierry) Henry. He was good. Pace, strength shooting, everything… And (Didier) Drogba as well. Them two are probably my favourites,” Kai smiles, determined to shed any ‘new Rooney’ nickname and prove himself as a rising star in his own right.
“I am just focusing on me I am trying to make a name for myself. I am not trying to be my dad, because I am my own person and I want to see how far career goes. Obviously, (I will) try and be the best I can and try and reach the biggest stages.
“But I am just focusing on me and trying not to let any pressure get to me. Keep working on me day by day, month by month, and try to make myself better.”
