Ronaldinho’s time at Querétaro has come to a premature end after the 35-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner announced his departure and thanked supporters of the Mexican team via a statement posted online.

The Brazilian scored eight times in 25 appearances for the Liga MX outfit since signing in September 2014 and has been linked with a move to Turkey. There was one year remaining on his contract but the head coach, Víctor Manuel Vucetich, had intimated at the end of last season he was likely to offload the attacker.

Querétaro subsequently confirmed the “conclusion of an employment relationship between Ronaldinho and the club”.

“I want to thank all the Mexican nation for all the days that I have lived with people so special, you will be forever in my heart,” Ronaldinho wrote on Twitter and Instagram. “To my team-mates thank you very much for every day of work, every moment, every laugh, our conversations in the hotel. I learned a lot during this stay.

“To all my fans thank you very much, especially to my friends Arturo Villanueva, Mario Chicks and the tireless Sarah Vergara who helped me in all stages since the arrival until the time to sign the termination tonight.

“Thank you very much the Nation Gallos Blancos, which made me very proud to wear this shirt and defend this club. Roosters forever!!!

“In July I will be in Mexico and I promise to say goodbye personally. Thank you Queretaro FC! Thank you Mexico! Now I am going to take advantage of the holidays to rest and think about the future!!! Obrigadoooooooo.”

Before moving to Mexico, Ronaldinho had been courted rather ambitiously by Basingstoke Town. “We took a look at the transfer list to see which players were available,” Simon Hood, the club’s marketing director said at the time. “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.” There are no reports of them making a fresh offer.