Three players who could benefit from Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo may leave Manchester United this summer but that doesn't have to be a bad thing.

It's now been over three weeks since Ronaldo made public his wish to leave United, just a year after his return to Old Trafford, and plunged the mood around the club into further doom and gloom. However, a successful pre-season tour full of exciting football as Erik ten Hag's methods take root has begun to disperse those clouds.

With three victories and a draw, but more importantly dominant performances full of intricate passing, lightning counterattacks and coordinated passing in Thailand and Australia have shown a glimpse of a possible future without Ronaldo and it's looking bright. Despite the five-time Ballon d'Or winner making his availability clear there has been a lack of suitors to take him away from Manchester.

ALSO READ: Cristiano Ronaldo and Jorge Mendes pictured at Carrington for Manchester United talks

Ronaldo was back at Carrington, along with his agent Jorge Mendes, on Tuesday to hold crunch talks on his future but he comes into them from a weaker position, with no interest and United looking promising without him. It's all in the club's hands.

Should Ronaldo finally get his wish and leave the club for a second time, there are actually three players who could really benefit.

The most obvious, of course, is Anthony Martial. After a dreadful past season in which he got his request to leave granted but went on to stink the place out on loan at Sevilla, the Frenchman's days at United looked numbered at the start of the summer.

But what a turnaround it's been. With Ronaldo absent from the tour, Martial was given the task of leading the line. He may not have deserved the chance to do so once again but he has