Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez has elected to play in the Copa America Centenario rather than the Olympics, the Mexican striker said Thursday.

Hernandez told the LA Times in a phone interview that while he wanted to play in the Olympics, he has decided to play in the June tournament taking place in the United States instead. The Bayer Leverkusen attacker added the Mexican federation was in agreement with the decision.

"The Mexican federation wants me to go to the Copa America," Hernandez said. "It’s not only my decision. It’s like 50-50, the decision. The federation wants me to go to Copa America and I decided to go to Copa America.

"Not because I don’t want to go to the Olympics. It’s because it’s the best for...my club, for me and for the federation."

Hernandez revealed his club team, Bayer Leverkusen, also did not approve of Chicharito playing in both tournaments, and preferred he take part in the Copa America instead.

"The most important thing here is what my club as well wanted," Hernandez said. "If we finish fourth, I cannot go to the Olympics. So it’s not my decision. And if we finish third, the thing is I need to do preseason."

"So it’s not only my decision. Not only 100 percent mine."

The Copa America Centenario is an event that requires clubs to release players to their international teams if called. However, the Olympics, being a youth tournament with a small number of over-age players taking part, does not.

As a result, players have to get special permission to play in the Olympics. A high-profile example has already happened in the form of Neymar, who was required by Barcelona to sit out the Copa America in order to be released for the Olympics.

Mexico is the reigning champion of the Olympics, winning the tournament in 2012. Hernandez did not take part in that tournament either because Manchester United did not release him.

The Copa America kicks off June 3 with the host United States facing Colombia. Mexico opens with a June 5 match against Uruguay.

Hernandez is having a breakthrough season in 2015-16 and is fourth in the Bundesliga in goals, with 16 in the league this season. He is back in training after sustaining an injury in last weekend’s Leverkusen win.