Clint Dempsey says he decided to sit out United States training camp this month after national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann gave him the option to join the squad or rest up for the MLS season.

The Seattle Sounders forward scored nine goals in 10 appearances with the U.S. last year, but he also struggled with hamstring injuries in 2015. He was left out of the U.S. squad that played two World Cup qualifiers in November as well as the current camp that will last into the first week of February.

With regard to the World Cup qualifiers, Dempsey said he received a text from Klinsmann informing him of the decision, and that he understood the U.S. manager's thinking.

But he also revealed that he was the one who chose to rest this month ahead of the upcoming MLS season.

"He sent me a text during the World Cup qualifiers before that camp letting me know that he wasn't going to call me in, and at the same time have a look at some of the new and younger players," Dempsey said in an exclusive interview. "It's something you've got to do. You've got to make sure you're always preparing for the future and making sure you're doing what's right to put yourself in a position to be successful.

"In terms of the January camp, he sent me a text again, asking is this something I wanted to do or did I need a little bit of more rest. And for me I wanted to build a little bit slower going into the season, especially with the injuries I had last year.

"I want to make sure I have a good foundation. You hit the ground running."