Fans in India will not be able to watch one of the greatest footballers of the modern game, after all. Just when it looked like Ronaldinho might make a stunning move to India and sign for Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Chennai Titans, all hopes were dashed in the blink of an eye with Mexican club Club Queretaro confirming they had signed the Brazil legend.
The club's owner Olegario Vasquez revealed Queretaro had succeeded in convincing Ronaldinho, a free agent, to sign for the Liga MX club, in a major blow to the Chennai Titans and Basingstoke Town, who had also made a bid to sign the forward.
"It pleases me to share with you that from today, the star Ronaldinho is Gallo (a Queretaro player)," revealed Vazquez. "He strengthens a great team. The fans deserve it."
Having already roped in several big-name players, including the likes of Robert Pires and Alessandro Del Piero, ISL were looking forward to getting the biggest of them all in Ronaldinho, who in the heights of his powers, during his time with Barcelona, was the best player in the world.
However, now it looks like the Chennai Titans will have to look elsewhere, with the Times of India suggesting they are in for former Italy and Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi, who is well known for being on the receiving end of that infamous Zinedine Zidane head-butt in the 2006 World Cup final.
Earlier in the week, the Chennai Titans had another rival for Ronaldinho's signature in the form of English Conference South side Bassingstoke Town.
"We've put an offer to his brother, who is his agent, and look forward hearing back from him," BBC Sports quoted marketing director Simon Hood as saying.
"We took a look at the transfer list to see which players were available. We were shocked to see that Ronaldinho was a free agent and thought what better way for him to get back into football than to play for Basingstoke Town.
"We are third in the table and it would be great for not only Basingstoke but non-league football."
Well, now it looks like Ronaldinho will not be playing in England for the first time, and neither will he be plying his trade in India, with Queretaro jumping in front of the queue and stealing a march in emphatic fashion.
