Wayne Rooney speaks out after viral Kai Rooney debut at Old Trafford in front of Michael Carrick

Kai Rooney’s first appearance at Old Trafford on Friday evening sparked a wholesome reaction from dad Wayne.

The 16-year-old was introduced as an extra-time substitute in the 2-1 FA Youth Cup clash win over Derby County in a match that also featured talented starlets JJ Gabriel and Chido Obi.

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The match was deadlocked at 0-0 after 90 minutes but it didn’t take long for United to take the upper hand.

The hosts were given a helping hand in opening the scoring thanks to an unfortunate own goal before Obi added a second in the 103rd minute.

A proud moment

But the most heartwarming moment of the evening came when Kai entered the pitch in the 99th minute in front of the watching Wayne – in a moment which has since hit the headlines and gone viral.

The Manchester United and England legend left a defining legacy at Old Trafford during his 13-year spell at the club where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer.

And a proud Wayne immediately took to social media to pay tribute to his son.

He posted a pic of a young Kai running out at Old Trafford as a mascot and another of his making his Theatre of Dreams debut.

The caption read: “Then and now. Proud of you, Kai.”

Obi, who joined Manchester United from Arsenal in 2024, also celebrated Kai’s Old Trafford debut by sharing a selection of images on Instagram.

Kai responded to the post by writing: “Brotherrrr,” and a love heart emoji.

Opportunity to impress

Meanwhile, Wayne wasn’t the only big name watching from the stands with first-team interim boss Michael Carrick also casting an eye over the club’s academy talent.

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The former United midfielder was in attendance at the Under-21s clash with Sporting CP on Tuesday and put his preparations for Sunday’s trip to Arsenal to one side to catch his second match of the week.

Asked about his attendance at Friday’s match, Carrick told MUTV: “My message of support is that I’m coming along to watch and I’m excited.

“I was lucky enough to play and win the FA Youth Cup when I was young at West Ham.

“It’s such an important competition, especially for this club. Young players, Old Trafford under the floodlights, feeling what it means, a bit of expectation.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the young boys to go and take the next step. We’re all fully behind them, it’ll be a tough game, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Friday’s victory ensures Kai and co will face Oxford United in the next round of the FA Youth Cup.