ASUNCION, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Former Bayern Munich and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has withdrawn from Paraguay's Copa America squad because of a knee injury, the country's football association said on Friday.

The announcement followed a request by Santa Cruz's club Olimpia to omit the 37-year-old, allowing him to undergo surgery in Spain in the coming weeks.

"Olimpia asked to release him for medical reasons and [we] agreed," the Paraguayan Football Association said in a statement.

Santa Cruz earned the last of his 112 Paraguay caps in November 2016 but was recalled for the continental tournament in Brazil after 10 goals in 14 appearances in Paraguay's top division this year.

The Copa America will be played in five Brazilian cities from June 14 to July 7. Paraguay have been drawn in Group B alongside Argentina, Colombia and Qatar.