Matthew Hoppe finally returns to play in Mallorca defeat

U.S. striker Matthew Hoppe returned from an injury layoff of more than two months, entering in the 74th minute of Mallorca's 2-0 loss at Levante on Saturday in La Liga.

The 20-year-old from Yorba Linda, California, had not played for Mallorca since Sept. 22 and had not appeared in a game since the U.S. World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on Oct. 13. He injured his right thigh in training with Mallorca on Nov. 6.

The former Schalke player returned to training earlier this week for Luis Garcia’s club and jumped right back into the mix this weekend. Hoppe registered one shot in the defeat on Saturday, but showed promising moments in his first competitive action in over three months.

Matthew Hoppe has failed to show what he did with Schalke 04

Hoppe, 20, earned a transfer to Mallorca last summer after impressing with Schalke during the second half of the 2020-21 Bundesliga season. The California native scored six goals and registered one assist in 24 combined appearances for the first team. 

An impressive five months with Schalke earned Hoppe his USMNT debut under Gregg Berhalter at the 2021 Gold Cup, where he scored one goal and added one assist in five appearances. Hoppe made his World Cup Qualifying debut in October, helping the Americans close out a 2-1 comeback victory over Costa Rica in Ohio.

Mallorca has struggled for goals this season, scoring the fourth-fewest (17) in La Liga so far. The club sits four points clear of the relegation zone through 20 matches played and will return to action on January 19 in Copa Del Rey play against Espanyol. 

Hoppe has played in three matches for Mallorca this season since joining from Germany's Schalke.

Rumors said the striker was offered to Girona

Matthew Hoppe, who hardly enjoys minutes in Mallorca, is on the table of the sporting director blanc-i-vermell. This has been sent to him by an agent, as reported by RAC1, although it does not seem to be an option to consider in Montilivi. In addition, before signing the striker, the question of the continuity or not of Darío Sarmiento, who barely has minutes and could leave Girona to look for them elsewhere, remains pending.

What is real is that Mallorca wants the young striker to leave in search of minutes. Luis García Plaza has hardly given him opportunities and the promising striker has not finished his adaptation.