BASINGSTOKE Town's ambitious bid to sign Brazillian World Cup winner Ronaldinho has failed.

The club, who sit third in the Vanarama Conference South table heading into today's trip to Bishop's Stortford, announced that they had offered the former Barcelona and AC Milan star a contract earlier this week.

The bid attracted interest from around the world, but Ronaldinho has decided that his future lies elsewhere, signing for Mexican outfit Queretaro instead.

"I chose Mexico for the affection I have always received here. I am very motivated to represent Queretaro," Ronaldinho, 34, said on Twitter. 

Town's marketing director, Simon Hood, thinks it is a decision that the Brazillian could live to regret.

"It's his loss at the end of the day," Hood said. "The team is performing really well without him and Shaun McAuley scored a goal that he would have been proud of against Ebbsfleet last week. In fact, I'm not sure he would get in the starting 11.

"The good news is that the world is talking about Basingstoke Town. It has been an amazing 48 hours."

Queretaro were almost thrown out of the Mexico League last year following a corruption scandal involving the club's former owner.

They are currently eighth in the Liga MX 2014 Apertura tournament, the final play-off place in the competition, after seven games of Mexico's domestic summer season.

The move to Mexico is seen as something of a shock, with the former Ballon d'Or winner becoming the most high-profile player to sign for a club in that country. However, it would have been a far bigger surprise had he agreed to play in the sixth tier of English football for Town.