Top 5 players who became better after leaving Manchester United

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo has only started to slow down in form this campaign

The most obvious entry on this list, Ronaldo somehow topped the incredible years he had at Manchester United after his then world-record transfer to Real Madrid. He's since grown into arguably one of the best players of his era, alongside Lionel Messi, and one of the greatest footballers of all time.

He became a legend in Manchester before the move, though, after a difficult start to life in England where his young and slim frame struggled to adapt to brutal Premier League defences.

In the 2006/2007 season, Ronaldo simply exploded, as he had bulked up, he had cut out most of the showboating tricks people were accustomed to seeing from him, and his 17 league goals fired his club to the league title.

Sir Alex Ferguson told him to top his contribution from that campaign and Ronaldo duly scored an amazing 31 league goals the following season. He also scored 8 goals in 11 UEFA Champions League appearances, including 1 in the final against Chelsea, as he was the main reason for Manchester United ending 2008 as double winners.

The winger also won his first Ballon d'Or award in this year, recognition of his world-class status.

There was a lot of pressure on Ronaldo's back when he moved to Madrid, given the astronomical transfer fee, but his contributions to the club will go down in footballing history.

Ronaldo again adapted his game, becoming an all-out goal-scoring machine from the left wing, reducing his focus on dribbling. In La Liga, he has an unbelievable 293 goals in 282 appearances; in the UEFA Champions League, he has 99 goals in 94 appearances.

For 8 long seasons, Ronaldo has been one of football's greatest attackers alongside his rival Messi; to witness their competition has been to witness a classic footballing tale in one of the sport's strongest eras.

Ronaldo was the attacking force that has led Madrid to 3 UEFA Champions League titles, including their iconic 10th triumph, and he's certainly their greatest player ever. To be such a success in perhaps Europe's two best leagues speaks so much of Ronaldo's versatility, adaptability, and immense talent.