Wayne Rooney warns Kai of fake friends after son signs Manchester United scholarship

Wayne Rooney has spoken candidly about the pitfalls awaiting his son Kai following the teenager’s scholarship signing with Manchester United, warning that the deal could attract opportunistic friendships.

Kai Rooney, 16, has been part of United’s academy since the age of 11 and formalised his ties to the club with a scholarship agreement in July, placing him in the club’s Professional Development Phase group alongside seven other young players — including Michael Carrick’s son Jacey.

Speaking in an interview with the Guardian last month, Wayne Rooney was asked how young players in the spotlight learn to distinguish genuine friends from those drawn by status. He pointed directly to Kai’s situation as an example. “We’ve got this with Kai having signed for Manchester United,” Rooney said. “We know who his friends are. He’s joined United and if there’s suddenly a group of people starting to get close to him, you’ll see that. I’m not saying you can’t make new friends.”

Kai has already experienced life in the spotlight well before his academy career took shape. The family’s Disney+ docu-series, The Real Rooneys, has broadened his public profile considerably, and he made his debut at Old Trafford during an FA Youth Cup win over Derby County last season.

Despite his father’s iconic status at United — Wayne Rooney remains the club’s all-time leading scorer — the former England captain has been clear that he wants Kai to forge his own path. In episode three of the docu-series, Rooney Sr. said: “Kai wants his own legacy, and I’ll be there to support him. What I don’t want is him to get a scholarship or get a contract because of me. I want it to be because of him in his own right.”

The scholarship represents the final formal step before young players can sign their first professional contracts, which they are permitted to do from the age of 17. Kai turns 17 next month, meaning a professional deal could follow in the near future.