Santa Cruz eyes Bayern exit

Roque Santa Cruz has threatened to leave Bayern Munich this summer.

Roque Santa Cruz has threatened to leave Bayern Munich this summer as the forward has failed to break into the starting formation of the struggling Bundesliga giants.

After former coach Felix Magath overlooked the 25-year-old for large parts of the season, things have not improved since Ottmar Hitzfeld took the helm at the Allianz-Arena.

Hitzfeld, in charge until the end of the season, has preferred to keep faith in Roy Makaay, Lukas Podolski and Claudio Pizarro up front.

‚Ç£My difficult situation hasn't changed lately," complained Santa Cruz, who is tied to Munich until 2009.

"I need to find my rhythm and therefore I need to get more games.‚Ç¥

The Paraguay skipper spent the last eight years with Bayern, but he now feels that it is time to move on if his status should not improve significantly.

‚Ç£It's good to be in the squad, but that doesn't help me much if I don't get on the pitch. I must find a team where I get the chance to play,‚Ç¥ he insisted.

Santa Cruz joined Bayern at the age of 17 from Olimpia Asuncion, but after a successful debut season never really lived up to his enormous potential during a spell marred by injuries and illness.

As the Bundesliga champions are planning a massive squad overhaul in the summer, it is expected that Bayern would agree to part company with the tall forward.