Sam Thompson reveals true feelings on Louis Tomlinson in awkward Soccer Aid interview

Wales Online

a day ago

Sam Thompson reveals true feelings on Louis Tomlinson in awkward Soccer Aid interview
The Made in Chelsea star and One Direction singer have come face to face at Soccer Aid training amid Zara McDermott drama
Sam Thompson and Louis Tomlinson
(Image: 2025 Mike Marsland )
Preparations for this year's Soccer Aid charity match have begun, with the England and World XI squads gathering for their training sessions before Sunday evening's clash at Old Trafford.
The huge event has provided plenty of memorable moments over the years, with celebrities and former professional footballers coming together to raise tens of millions of pounds for UNICEF since its launch in 2006, all while sharing plenty of laughs and showing off their varied range of skills on the pitch.
However, this year, there is set to be some awkwardness among the England ranks with squad members Sam Thompson and Louis Tomlinson coming face-to-face after a dramatic development in their respective romantic lives.
In December last year, Made In Chelsea star and former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! champion Thompson split from his girlfriend of five years, Zara McDermott.
Weeks later, McDermott - who rose to fame on the fourth series of Love Island in 2018 - went public with her new romance with One Direction star Tomlinson, with the pair since jetting off on romantic getaways to Costa Rica and Los Angeles.
Thompson has insisted there are "no hard feelings" between him and Tomlinson, but all eyes were on the pair when they reported to Soccer Aid training earlier this week and came face-to-face.
While Thompson has since been forced to miss out on playing in the big game after picking up a calf injury, he will still share the dressing room with Tomlinson after being handed a coaching role for the event.
After the lineups for this year's charity match were announced, the 32-year-old was grilled by close friend and The Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks in an awkward interview on their Staying Relevant podcast.
Innocently asking about his friend's Soccer Aid preparations, Wicks said: "How are you feeling? You're playing again. Must be really exciting.
Grinning, he then added: 'How do you feel about the line-up? Do you think you've got a strong team?'
Thompson then awkwardly laughed and replied: "Got a really strong team.'
However, Wicks pressed further and asked: 'Any kind of people in there who you're looking forward to playing with?'
Continuing to dodge the question, Thompson tried to keep a straight face and said: "Loads. Tom Grennan. I'm really looking forward to playing alongside Wayne Rooney. Tyson Fury's the manager. I can't wait.'
A smirking Wicks then added: '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…'
As well as Tomlinson, the England team features ex-pros including Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Joe Hart as well as celebrities including Dame Denise Lewis, Bear Grylls and Sir Mo Farah.
Article continues below
Thompson will join an impressive coaching team made up of Wayne Rooney, Tyson Fury, David James and actress Vicky McClure.
Meanwhile, former football stars Nemanja Vidic, Carlos Tevez and Leonardo Bonucci will all be in action for the World XI as they play alongside the likes of Martin Compston, Dermot Kennedy and Bryan Habana.