USMNT Transfer News: Matthew Hoppe could leave Mallorca on a loan

After a surprising first semester of 2021, where Matthew Hoppe shone with Bundesliga Shalke 04, scoring six goals on 25 games, and then with the USMNT that won the Gold Cup against Mexico, life has been difficult for the Californian.

Now, after having a hard time adjusting to Spanish soccer and having an injury that has prevented him from playing the last couple of months, Mallorca is looking to loan him to a second division team in hopes he gains regularity and finishes to adapt.

Signed by Mallorca in the last day of the summer transfer window for almost $4 million on a 4-year contract, he was the latest bet for La Liga team, who was in search for a striker. Hoppe only played two games for the first round of La Liga. Mallorca could be looking to add another forward to take his place if he ends up leaving.

Teams like Málaga and Girona have shown interest in acquiring the American forward on a loan for the remainder of the season, something that could help Hoppe gain the regularity he lost since he joined Mallorca.

This could also help him win back his spot in the USMNT for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be played in Qatar, as his lack of playtime and injury left him without a spot on Gegg Belhalter’s squad.

Just two games for him during his stint with Mallorca

His debut in the Spanish soccer league was against Villareal, in a match that ended up in a 0-0 draw. The 20-year-old striker is yet to score his first goal, as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) didn’t validate a goal he scored during the game due to an offside.

His second and last game for the Spanish side was against Real Madrid, where he was a starter and played 59 minutes in the 6-1 loss for the Barralets. On that game he managed to give his lone assistance on the season.

His only 89 mintues played in the season so far didn’t prevent him of being called to play with the USMNT for the FIFA Qualifiers games disputed on October against Jamaica, Panamá and Costa Rica, where he only disputed 17 minutes.

Language and injuries, the biggest barriers he’s struggling with

Hoppe has been sidelined for the past two months due to a muscle injury, as he hurt his right tight in a training session on November 6, just a day before Mallorca’s game against Elche, game that ended in a 2-2 draw.

His team was hoping to have him back at the beginning of 2022 but he won’t be ready for their first game of the year to be played on Sunday, January 2, when they’ll receive Barcelona at Estadi de Son Moix.

According to Luis García Plaza, Mallorca’s coach, one of the biggest problems Hoppe is facing is the language barrier, even though he’s taking Spanish lessons and his coach speaks to him in English, most of the interactions with the team are in Spanish.

“At the end of the day Mathews is missing a lot of things, not only on soccer terms, but rather of integration. It’s hard to see your teammates laughing about something and not being able to understand what they’re saying.”