Promise: Ben Collett was highly regarded at
Old Trafford until he suffered a serious injury.
Ben Collett, who was aged 18 at the time of the injury,
fractured his right leg while making his first appearance for
United's reserves against Middlesbrough five years ago.
Middlesbrough player Gary Smith and his club admitted liability
through their insurers before compensation was decided at
Manchester's High Court.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, and club captain Gary
Neville both gave evidence at an earlier hearing in July. Ferguson
had described Collet, who has been compared to Ryan Giggs, as an
"A-class" player who had an "outstanding chance" of being awarded a
professional contract.
The court heard that Collett broke his leg in two places.
Despite lengthy rehabilitation and attempts to resurrect his career
in New Zealand and the Netherlands, Collett was forced to retire.
He is now studying and seeking an alternative career.
The player's lawyer, Jan Levinson, said Collett was one of
United's most talented young players, with his full career ahead of
him, but the injury ended his prospects at just 18. He said Collett
had played in the FA Youth Cup-winning side in 1992, as had David
Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville, also products
of the academy.
Now aged 23, Collett joined United at the age of nine was part
of the club's FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2003.
"I thought the boy showed fantastic focus, a great attitude to
work hard, and they are qualities to give any player an outstanding
chance in the game," Ferguson told the hearing last month. Earlier,
the court heard Collett could have earned more than £13,000-a-week,
making a total in excess of £16 million, if he had played until the
age of 35.