What love rivalry? How Sam Thompson ‘show-boated’ his way through Soccer Aid training day while Louis Tomlinson took a very different approach in awkward meet-up after singer started dating TV star’s ex Zara McDermott

On Thursday, Louis Tomlinson and Sam Thompson had their long-awaited encounter during Soccer Aid training sessions, a moment that seemed somewhat tense.

After his breakup with Zara McDermott last December, Sam has made it clear that he bears no ill feelings towards her, as she swiftly moved on with singer Louis, aged 33, whom she’s been inseparable from since their relationship became public in March.

However, it turned out to be an uncomfortable situation when Louis and Sam found themselves practicing together on the field, each trying to avert their gaze as they interacted with their famous fellow team members.

The men are part of the same England team supporting Unicef, yet they intentionally avoided drawing attention to themselves, focusing instead on their personal belongings. However, for a brief moment, they exchanged a glance, and at that instant, showy Sam offered a smile to his companion.

During the encounter following the run-in, Judi James, a body language expert, explained that their deliberate attempts to avoid eye contact seemed to draw more attention instead of defusing the situation, describing it as an “attention-attracting” behavior.

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In conversation solely with TopMob, Judi explained that Sam seems eager to present himself as anything but a failure in romance, whereas Louis comes across as more reserved or introverted.

In this situation, it was possible for these two men, Sam and Louis, to acknowledge each other in some way, even if briefly, through a hug or handshake. However, they opted to silently signal their discomfort, given that Sam used to date Zara, who is currently involved with Louis. This was her explanation.

As an ardent admirer, I’ve come to realize that overlooking an evident scenario can inadvertently draw more attention, which contradicts our initial intent of not outshining the charity. This oversight, unfortunately, seems to pose a challenge instead.

Judi explained that Sam was displaying signs of boasting, indicating his eagerness to maintain a friendly demeanor and prevent being labeled as unsuccessful in love. In contrast, Louis appeared more reserved.

Despite appearing as trustworthy individuals, there seems to be a hint of dramatic tension, perhaps due to their avoidance of eye contact or other gestures of greeting, as she continued to speak.

Each of them seems to take on distinct personas. Sam exhibits behaviors that suggest he’s trying to draw attention, flashing a broad grin and using expressive hand movements, whereas Louis comes across as reserved, preferring to observe the action with a smile, rather than actively initiating it.

It appears that Sam is making an effort to project an image other than being a failure in romantic relationships. His demeanor seems enthusiastic, self-assured, and brimming with optimism, which hints that he has already moved forward since his breakup with Zara.

Louis seems attentive and engaged, yet neither of the two gentlemen, who are well-known for their amiable nature, appear to show any signs of rivalry or obvious bitterness.

In that instant when the two gentlemen locked gazes and exchanged a fleeting grin, Judi observed that Sam was expressing himself more ‘overtly’ whereas Louis maintained a ‘reserved’ or ‘unmoved’ expression.

She noted that Sam appeared to be communicating more actively, while Louis stood with a less expressive demeanor, his hands resting on his hips, observing.

As an overly enthusiastic admirer, I can’t help but notice Sam’s partially lifted hands and the seemingly triumphant smile that plays on his lips, causing them to curve upward, making his cheeks puff out slightly while his mouth gapes open. This gesture, to me, radiates a confident and friendly sportsmanship.

It appears that he’s flexing his bicep towards Louis, suggesting a display of physical power, with his hand gently clenched into a relaxed fist.

If Sam adopts a friendly yet competitive posture, Louis doesn’t seem to reciprocate this vibe; instead, he appears relaxed and unfazed in this particular scene.

After her separation from Sam, Zara swiftly moved forward with Louis. The affectionate pair have been seen together on numerous romantic excursions and vacations, ever since their relationship became public knowledge in March.

During the training session, Sam and Louis seemed to be deliberately keeping their distance from one another. However, the singer appeared to surreptitiously fixate on the TV personality for an extended period while they were both on the field. This caught Sam’s attention as he looked over.

The duo was spotted playing soccer together with their teammates, all donning identical blue jerseys.

Louis seemed quite uncomfortable, noticeably so, as he found himself standing right behind a lively Sam. It’s uncertain whether they’ve ever engaged with one another off-camera.

It appears that Sam and Louis won’t share the same space in the changing rooms, as they each have their own separate areas.

Upon stepping into the training venue today, I couldn’t help but flash a smile for the cameras, all the while capturing Louis’ radiant entrance and stride onto the field in my mind’s eye.

The previous evening, Zara demonstrated her backing for her recent beau, Louis, by preparing them a creamy salmon pasta for supper. In the picture she shared, her boyfriend’s guitar was visibly present amidst the dish.

The newly formed couple recently had a romantic vacation, spending time at his Los Angeles residence as well as in Costa Rica, following Louis’ arrangement for his girlfriend to travel there luxuriously by first class.

Meanwhile, I’m A Celeb winner Sam has moved on with Love Island beauty Samie Eilshi, 25. 

Following the public display of their romantic connection with a passionate kiss in Mayfair earlier this month, whispers of a breakup intensified when Samie was conspicuously missing from Sam’s high-profile soccer event for Soccer Aid last week.

Although those rumors were later debunked, their relationship appears to be thriving, as they enjoy each other’s company during their free times, according to a source familiar with the couple, who shared this information with TopMob.

In the latest installment of their “Staying Relevant” podcast, Pete Wicks, aged 37, playfully hinted at a possible uncomfortable meeting involving Sam and Louis next month.

The TOWIE star posed a question to his fellow host, “It seems you’re dealing with quite a lot regarding your body, diet, and intense workouts. Is all this for Soccer Aid?

However, without changing the topic, Pete inquired: ‘Are there any individuals inside that you’re excited to play with?’

Sam chuckled, saying, “‘Tom Grennan.’ I’m quite excited to perform with Wayne Rooney, as Tyson Fury is managing. I can hardly wait!

Pete said playfully, “That’s going to be absolutely fantastic! Just remember to keep him as an ally since you might require his support if you have a disagreement with someone. It’s not that you will, but it’s always good to have someone on your side in case of any conflicts or disputes.

It requires a great deal of joint training, and since you’re so close to each other during this process, all kinds of topics tend to come up.

In another location, Tom Grennan flaunted his toned figure in a snug white shirt and blue denims while attending Soccer Aid training sessions.

Simultaneously, ex-goalkeeper Joe Hart grinned broadly as he prepared for photographs prior to the match, while Strictly contestant Gorka Marquez made his arrival as well.

Last weekend, I found myself facing a heart-wrenching setback during my arduous 260-mile soccer marathon for Unicef. On the very first day, I strained my calf muscle. The pain was unbearable, but my passion for the cause and my love for the game kept me going.

Although the TV figure had concerns about his leg problems potentially preventing him from participating in the football match and was adamant that he was making every effort, it appeared that Sam could possibly join in some of the game during training.

On Tuesday, Sam posted another update, stating: ‘Working hard on perfecting my soccer skills! I’m determined to make a contribution [smiling face with laughter emoji]!’

According to a subsequent report from TopMob, it was disclosed that Sam’s position as a player for Soccer Aid remains unchanged since there has been no formal update announced thus far. He continues to attend practice sessions and receive additional physical therapy.

Sam chuckled and confirmed that he enjoys it, yet clarified that it’s not the case for the current game, prompting Pete to ask if he might be mistaken about it not being for Soccer Aid. He inquired about Sam’s feelings since he was playing again, suggesting that it must be thrilling.

Or:

Sam laughed and admitted his fondness for it, but clarified it wasn’t the game at hand. Pete then wondered if he could have been wrong, asking if perhaps it was for Soccer Aid. He also inquired about Sam’s feelings since he was playing again, implying it must be an exciting experience.

He added: ‘How do you feel about the line up? Do you think you’ve got a strong team?’

Awkwardly laughing, Sam replied: ‘Got a really strong team’.

Sam and Louis are set to team up with celebrities such as Tyson Fury, Jill Scott, Grennan, and Paddy McGuinness on an impressive roster, while Wayne Rooney is coming back from retirement to take on a managerial role.

It’s possible that Sam has more freedom to focus on his romantic involvement with Samie, as they have just publicly disclosed their relationship for the first time.

Initially, Sam got acquainted with Samie, a contestant from Love Island 2023 who also participated in the All Stars edition this year, during his hosting duties for the Aftersun show.

Samie discussed their burgeoning relationship publicly for the first time while appearing on the Chloe Mediumship podcast.

In this program, a spiritual advisor serves as the host. During one particular segment, the participant disclosed instances where she experienced uneasy intuitions in her prior romantic connections.

In my personal experience, I’ve encountered instances where I’ve had intuitive feelings about men. There have been relationships where I felt it wasn’t the right fit from the start. It was as if I could sense that this was destined to conclude, and every day, I’d feel a subtle hint that this wasn’t meant for me.

Initially, you choose to ignore it and then the disorder around you escalates. It seems as though the universe is warning you: If you don’t part ways soon, it might cause a catastrophe. Later on, I couldn’t help but think: If only I had heeded that first message I received months ago.

Next, Chloe inquired, “While there’s no need to delve deeply into it, I wanted to ask if you feel a strong sense about the person we are speaking with now? In other words, do you believe things will go well between you two?

Hesitant to reveal too much, the ex-Love Island contestant responded: “At this moment, there’s nothing negative happening, so I guess things are going well. We’re still in the beginning stages.

At the beginning of the year, there were rumors about a possible relationship between Zara and Louis. However, they didn’t confirm it until March, which was three months after news broke that Zara and her former boyfriend Sam had split up, as reported by TopMob.

Although Sam was deeply hurt by Zara’s swift move, it was revealed that he bore no ill feelings towards Louis due to their new relationship, as reported by trusted sources to TopMob at the time.

A source close to the star said: ‘Sam has no hard feelings towards Louis, that’s for sure.

‘As far as he’s concerned, Louis is Zara’s new man and he’s just got to accept it.

He’s an optimistic individual who prefers to focus forward, immersing himself in his work and diving headfirst into the engaging tasks ahead.

It’s clear that the breakup of their relationship left him feeling sorrowful, and just as many people can attest, watching an ex move on swiftly can be challenging. Given his mix of anger and despair, it’s not hard to empathize with his feelings.

‘But he’s not sitting around wallowing in self pity, far from it.’

On the enchanting evening of the 15th of June this year, I’ll be glued to my screen, heart pounding with excitement as I tune into ITV1 and ITVX for the captivating Soccer Aid for Unicef match! The magic unfolds live from the hallowed grounds of Old Trafford, Manchester. As an ardent fan, I can’t wait to witness the thrilling clash between stars and legends, all in the name of a noble cause!

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2025-06-13 03:10