Luzy Zelic slams Cristiano Ronaldo for signing a $310m-a-year contract to play in Saudi Arabia

Former SBS soccer commentator Lucy Zelic has ruffled fans’ feathers by revealing that Cristiano Ronaldo’s Megabucks deal to play for a Saudi Arabian team has made her “sad”.

The former Manchester United star has penned a two-year, $310m-per-season deal to play for the Al-Nassr team in the Saudi Pro League, a decision that effectively ended his career at the highest level of sport.

The team announced the 37-year-old’s arrival on social media, saying: “The greatest athlete in the world has officially signed for Al-Nassr.”

The news didn’t sit well with Zelic, who tweeted over a link to a story about the Portuguese legend’s new job: “This makes me sad for a number of reasons”.

Zelic (pictured with former SBS colleague Craig Foster) said she was saddened by Ronaldo’s decision to take the money and play in Saudi Arabia

The Portuguese legend is set to rake in a staggering $310m a year to play for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League after signing a two-season deal

The outspoken football expert didn’t elaborate on why Ronaldo’s move had this effect on her, but fans were quick to suspect money was at the root of her troubles with the move, telling her they didn’t share her concerns.

“So give all these valid reasons that you think mean he can’t make money for his family. I’m not a fan of his but I applaud him for finding a way to get such a contract at his age,” wrote one football fan.

“Why – it’s freaking awesome for him and his family and a reward for all his hard work and amazing achievements over the past 20 years!” another added.

“Would you be sad if another network offered you 200 euros (sic) to work there? I’m sure Cr7 doesn’t care what other people think,” stressed another fan.

‘Why? He’s a great all-time player past his prime and unable to be the main man for a top team, which doesn’t do him any good. So he jumped at the chance to make an obscene amount of money. Can guarantee if they offered the same you would accept,” said another.

Other fans joined Zelic in criticizing Ronaldo’s new deal, asking if he really needed the money or had to take a pay cut to continue playing in Europe.

One branded him a “mercenary” and warned that the Saudis were using him to “sport wash” the activities of the regime that rules the country.

Zelic’s tweet didn’t sit well with many fans, who applauded Ronaldo for making the most of his career while he still can

Some football fans asked Zelic if she would turn down a huge payday like the one Ronaldo just signed

It is believed that Ronaldo was hoping for a move to a Champions League club but didn’t succeed.

It has also been claimed that part of his role will require him to be the country’s ambassador in its joint bid with Egypt and Greece to host the 2030 World Cup.

Zelic has spoken out on a number of football issues lately.

In November, she lashed out at organizers of the World Cup in Qatar in November, saying she didn’t want to be a “cheerleader” for the tournament because there was “unnecessary tragedy and controversy” over the deaths of migrant workers in the Gulf nation.

Zelic also said Australian football fans only want to hear from “rich, ethnic” former stars of the game as she defended columnist Peter FitzSimons after he attacked the Socceroos’ tactics in their Cup Opening defeat by France.

She then accused the A-League of selling its soul with its “shit” on a decision to hold the men’s and women’s grand finals in Sydney for the next three years in a $10m deal with the NSW government .