Louis Tomlinson and Sam Thompson were seen desperately trying to avoid eye contact when they finally came face to face at Soccer Aid training on Thursday.
The men are both on the same England team for Unicef – the same charity Sam completed a 260-mile five-day long marathon for last week – but tried to not to draw attention to themselves, although at one point, Louis was caught staring at Sam.
And while Sam has insisted there are ‘no hard feelings’, the encounter was bound to sting a little, as he and Zara McDermott – who is now with Louis – confirmed they had ended their relationship in January after more than five years together.
Zara, 28, moved on pretty quickly with singer Louis, 33, with the smitten couple appearing inseparable since their romance was made public in March.
Sam and Louis were spotted trying to avoid each other during training but the singer was caught giving the TV star a lingering stare while on the pitch.
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Louis Tomlinson, 33, (R) and Sam Thompson, 32, (L) were seen desperately trying to avoid eye contact when they finally came face to face at Soccer Aid training on Thursday – Louis is dating Sam’s ex Zara McDermott, 28
Zara moved on pretty quickly with singer Louis, with the smitten couple appearing inseparable since their romance was made public in March
Both teams got together for a happy group picture at the end, with Sam and Louis noticeably standing away from each other – the real match will be played at Old Trafford on Saturday
Louis appeared visibly awkward as he stood directly behind a cheerful Sam
The pair were seen having a kick about with their fellow players wearing the same blue football kit.
Louis appeared visibly awkward as he stood directly behind a cheerful Sam – although it’s not known if the pair have interacted with each other behind cameras.
But it seems that Sam and Louis will still be keeping their distance from each other in the changing rooms as they have separated spaces.
As Sam arrived at the training day he put on a brave face for photos, while beaming Louis was captured arriving and making his way onto the pitch.
And Zara showed her support for her new boyfriend Louis the night before, as she cooked the pair a ‘creamy salmon pasta for dinner’, as she captured the plate with the singers guitar noticeably in the background.
The new couple have enjoyed a loved-up getaway at his home in LA and to Costa Rica together after Louis flew his new flame out to the island first-class.
Meanwhile I’m A Celeb winner Sam has moved on with Love Island beauty Samie Eilshi, 25.
After their blossoming romance was confirmed when they shared a steamy kiss in Mayfair last month, speculation of a split grew after Samie was noticeably absent from Sam’s highly-publicised challenge for Soccer Aid last week.
Such rumours have since been squashed however, with their romance reportedly going from strength to strength as they ‘love spending time together on their days off’, a source close to the couple told .
Louis and Sam tried their best to avoid eye contact on the Soccer Aid training pitch at Champneys Tring after singer started dating TV star’s ex Zara McDermott
At one point, Louis (far left) was caught staring at Sam who appeared in high spirits
Zara cooked herself and Louis a ‘creamy salmon pasta for dinner’ the night before, as she captured the plate with the singer’s guitar noticeably in the background
The men are both on the same England team for Unicef – the same charity Sam completed a 260-mile five-day long marathon for on Friday
Louis looked in great spirits as he was seen wearing the team’s blue sports top for the training day
Sam and Louis will still be keeping their distance from each other in the changing rooms as they have separated spaces
Beaming Louis was captured arriving and making his way onto the pitch
Their names in the changing room are separated
Louis arrived wearing a green sports jacket and black tracksuit bottoms ahead of training with the rest of the team
Louis focused on the football amid the awkwardness
He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face
Louis chatted to his coaches
Roman Kemp, Aaron Lennon, Tom Grennan and Harry Kewell pictured a training session
Louis done some drill exercises
Louis got some tips off of Jill Scott
Jill and Bella got stuck into training
Toni Duggan, Sam Quek and James Nelson-Joyce (L-R) collected their boots before the training session
Sam trained alongside the opposition team and his best pal Tony Bellew
Jill and Louis larked around during training
The session was held out Champneys Tring
Roman Kemp tried out his boots before heading on the pitch
The One Direction star made his way onto the pitch as he met up with the other celebrities
Louis walked through the hotel to the training pitch beaming
Sam and Zara confirmed they had ended their relationship in January after more than five years together (Pictured October 2022)
Zara moved on pretty quickly with singer Louis, 33, with the smitten couple appearing inseparable since their romance was made public in March
During an episode of their podcast Staying Relevant’s last month, Pete Wicks, 37, teased Sam about the prospect of the potentially awkward encounter between him and Louis.
The TOWIE star asked his co-host: ‘You’re really going through it with the whole f****** body and dieting and training loads. Is that for Soccer Aid?’
But, not dropping the subject, Pete then asked: ‘Any kind of people in there who you’re looking forward to playing with?’
‘Loads,’ Sam laughed: ‘Tom Grennan. I’m really looking forward to playing alongside Wayne Rooney, Tyson Fury’s the manager. I can’t wait’.
Pete joked: ‘I mean that’s gonna be f****** amazing. Make sure you get him on side though because you may need him in your corner in case you fall out with anyone. Not that you will but just in case there’s any rivalries or anything.
‘You know, you have to train together and it’s a lot, you know when you’re kind of in close quarters with someone like that. All sorts gets brought up. Anyway…’
Elsewhere singer Tom Grennan showed off his muscular physique in a fitted white T-shirt and blue denim jeans as he arrived for Soccer Aid training.
Meanwhile former goalkeeper Joe Hart beamed as he posed for photos ahead of the game and Strictly star Gorka Marquez also arrived.
Sam feared his legs will be the reason he won’t be able to take part in the football game after his challenge last week – but it seems he is all ok to play as he arrived at training
Louis was pictured checking out the training grounds
Elsewhere singer Tom Grennan showed off his muscular physique in a fitted white T-shirt and blue denim jeans as he arrived for Soccer Aid training
Strictly star Gorka Marquez also arrived at the training in a pair of denim shorts and a grey hoodie
Tony Bellew looked ready to play football in the game
Harry Redknapp has been revealed as part of the England management staff
Love Island’s Josh Denzel beamed ahead of meeting the other players
Galdiators star Diamond showed off her impressive muscles in a white crop top and denim shorts
Meanwhile former goalkeeper Joe Hart beamed as he posed for photos ahead of the game
Roman Kemp and Big Zuu looked relaxing in tracksuits
Billy Wingrove and Bella Ramsey were all smiles as they arrived for training
Sam Quek punched the air as she celebrated playing for the charity
It comes after Sam revealed he will be at Soccer Aid as he shared a new Instagram snap on Thursday after suffering a string of agonising injuries
The I’m A Celebrity winner posed for a selfie with his brother-in-law Ryan Libbey outside his Chelsea home and revealed that he is heading to training
It comes after Sam revealed he will be at Soccer Aid as he shared a new Instagram snap on Thursday after suffering a string of agonising injuries.
The I’m A Celebrity winner posed for a mirror selfie at his home in Chelsea and revealed that he is heading to training ahead of the celebrity charity match on Sunday.
Sam cut a cool figure in a black long sleeved top which he teamed with khaki cargos and white trainers.
The Staying Relevant podcast star was all smiles as he snapped the selfie wearing a white rucksack and a pair of Dinelli sunglasses.
He wrote: ‘Off to Soccer Aid! What a 4 days its going to be!’
As Sam made his way out of his home, he beamed for a snap with brother-in-law Ryan Libbey while carrying a large bottle of water to stay hydrated.
Last week, Sam suffered a calf injury on the first day of his gruelling 260-mile Soccer Aid challenge for Unicef.
Despite the TV personality fearing his legs will be the reason he won’t be able to take part in the football game and insisting he is doing everything he can, it seems Sam might be able to play some of the game as he heads to training.
It comes days after Sam gave a heartbreaking update on whether he will be able to play in Soccer Aid after suffering a string of agonising injuries during his charity challenge
The Made In Chelsea star has since moved on with Samie Eilishi (Pictured last week), 25, after the couple were snapped sharing a steamy kiss last mont
Pete Wicks teased Sam about Soccer Aid ‘rivalries’ during a recent episode of their podcast
In a clip posted to Staying Relevant’s TikTok account, Pete asked Sam: ‘You’re really going through it with the whole f****** body and dieting and training loads. Is that for Soccer Aid?’
On Tuesday, Sam shared another update, he wrote: ‘Trying to get those legs right for soccer aid!! I WILL play a part [laughing face emoji]’
A source later told : ‘Sam’s role is going to remain as a player at Soccer Aid as no official change has been made yet. He is continuing to go training and get further physio.’
Sam laughed and assured he’s ‘loving it’ but ‘no, it’s not’ for the game, to which Pete continued: ‘Are you sure it’s not for Soccer Aid? How are you feeling? You’re playing again. Must be really exciting.’
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 will join the likes of Tyson Fury, Jill Scott, Grennan and Paddy McGuinness in the star-studded squad, while Wayne Rooney will step out of retirement as one of the managers.
Sam may now have more time to pursue his romance with Samie, who recently opened up about their relationship for the first time.
Sam first met Samie, who appeared on Love Island in 2023 and returned to the All Stars series this year, through his presenting role on Aftersun.
Samie spoke about the blossoming relationship for the first time during an appearance on the Chloe Mediumship podcast.
The show is hosted by a psychic medium and in the episode, the beauty revealed how she’s previously had negative gut feelings in past relationships.
She explained: ‘I’ve had gut feelings with guys before. I’ve had a couple of relationships where I’ve known it was never it. Like this is gonna come to an end, I’ll have something telling me every day it’s coming to an end, this isn’t for you.
‘You put it to the back of your mind and then you start noticing the chaos increase. It’s like the universe saying I’m gonna blow you both up if you just do not separate. Then I’m like if I only I listened all those months ago when I got that first message.’
Then, host Chloe asked: ‘Obviously, you don’t have to talk about it too much but the guy you’re currently speaking to, do you have that gut feeling? Like do you think it’s gonna be really good?’
Keeping her cards close to her chest, the former Love Islander replied: ‘There’s been no bad stuff at the minute so yeah I suppose it is all positive right now. It’s early days.’
Pete hilariously parodied Sam’s ex Zara McDermott’s famous ‘you can!’ moment from Made In Chelsea as he supported him on his mammoth challenge last week
Sam couldn’t hide his emotions after he battled through a calf injury last week to complete his mission for Unicef and Soccer Aid
The reality TV star travelled more than 260 miles from London to Manchester over a five day period, raising £1.5million for Unicef in the process
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BREAKING NEWS
Sam Thompson breaks down in tears as he FINALLY completes his gruelling Soccer Aid challenge
Zara and Louis sparked relationship speculation at the start of this year before going public in March, three months after revealed Zara and ex-boyfriend Sam had parted ways.
Despite his heartache over Zara moving on so quickly, sources close to Sam exclusively told at the time he holds no grudges against Louis over the new romance.
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 a positive guy and will just move on from this, throwing himself into work and getting stuck into the exciting projects he’s got coming up.
‘Obviously he was sad when their relationship broke up and, like anyone, when your ex moves so quickly it’s tough. And if he was both angry and devastated, that would be understandable.
‘But he’s not sitting around wallowing in self pity, far from it.’
This year’s Soccer Aid for Unicef match airs on the evening of Sunday 15 June on ITV1 and ITVX from Old Trafford, Manchester.