Galaxy’s Dos Santos takes himself off Mexican national team, coach says

Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos was cut from Mexico’s 23-man roster for next month’s Copa America Centenario. And Dos Santos was the one who made the cut, Mexican Coach Juan Carlos Osorio said Tuesday.

“Giovani was invited to this call-up,” Osorio said at a news conference. “But Giovani himself declined the invitation.”

As for why, no one was saying. Dos Santos refused to discuss the national team Tuesday and Osorio refused to go into detail regarding Dos Santos’ situation.

“For ethical and moral principles,” Osorio said “what was said with Giovani will stay between us two.”

Dos Santos has yet to play for Osorio, who took over the Mexican national team last October. His brother Jonathan, a midfielder for Spanish club Villarreal, was also missing from the team announced Tuesday, something that may have influenced Gio’s decision.

Also left off the roster was Real Sociedad forward Carlos Vela, who has had stormy history with the national team.

But Mexico won’t be lacking for offensive punch. Bayer Leverkusen’s Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who scored a career-high 26 goals for his club team last season, will be joined up front by Raul Jimenez of Benfica and Oribe Perlata of Mexico’s Club America.

Veteran defender Rafael Marquez, 37, was also called back into the team as were midfielders Andres Guardado and Hector Herrera. A dozen players on Osorio’s roster were also with the national team when Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer.

Mexico will begin play in the Copa America on June 5, when it faces Uruguay in Glendale, Ariz. Mexico will also play at the Rose Bowl, meeting Jamaica there June 9.

The team:

Goalkeepers: Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corono (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Malaga)

Defenders: Paul Aguilar (America), Nestor Arujo (Santos), Diego Reyes (Real Sociedad), Hector Moreno (PSV), Yasser Corona (Queretaro), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres), Miguel Layun (Porta), Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Jesus Molina (Santos)

Midfielders: Hector Herrera (Porto), Jesus Duenas (Tigres), Andres Guardado (PSV), Carlos Pena (Chivas)

Forwards: Jurgen Damm (Tigres), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Jesus Corona (Porto), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (America)