Two Manchester United players set to benefit the most from Cristiano Ronaldo exit

Cristiano Ronaldo’s shocking interview with Piers Morgan may have taken the football world by surprise, but it was, in many ways, predictable.

Ronaldo has previously stated that he will express “his truth” following the Brentford incident in August. As the weeks and months went by, it appeared as if he had forgotten about it, but it appears that he has been plotting.

The fact that the interview was announced just hours after the victory over Fulham took some of the lusters of the three points. However, with six weeks of non-competitive football ahead for Manchester United, it should not derail the season in the same way it could have if it had been shown during the regular season.

The 37-year-old now flies to Qatar, maintaining that he is completely focused on Portugal, but he would be lying if he said he is not keeping half an eye on the reaction in England. According to all accounts, this problem with Ronaldo will only conclude with the forward leaving the club.

He is not currently receiving the playing time he believes he is entitled to, and as such, Erik ten Hag will be relieved to see him leave the club. If Ronaldo leaves in January, as is predicted, there are two guys who will gain immediately.

The first is Alejandro Garnacho. The teenager’s talent has long been known, but since his arrival at Old Trafford, he appears to have grown from strength to strength.

Garnacho was given a 20-minute cameo on Sunday in order to help his team win the game. His calm finish in stoppage time at Craven Cottage was just a reward following a fantastic few weeks for the youngster.

Without Ronaldo at United, the forward would have one less name in front of him, and his stock would climb. In the absence of the 37-year-old, he should see even more playing time, and regular minutes will only help his growth.

Anthony Martial is the second player who stands to benefit from Ronaldo’s departure. Martial has evolved into a completely different player after Ten Hag’s arrival.

His goals and assists have been key for the Reds, but there are still some questions about the Frenchman. Martial’s injury record this season has been concerning, and if he is to benefit from Ronaldo’s departure, he must avoid the hospital room.

If he succeeds, the position of center-forward at United will almost probably be his. As previously said, Martial’s form has drastically improved under the Dutch coach, and his only true opponent for the number nine spot at the moment is Ronaldo.

Both Garnacho and Martial will undoubtedly improve more with the additional burden that will be placed on them in Ronaldo’s absence, as evidenced by how well they have performed in his absence. In reality, it appears that a January transfer for the Portuguese great would benefit all parties concerned.