Alexis Saelemaekers stands nearby, hands loosely tucked at his sides, his posture relaxed but instinctively ready, as though the day might still ask something of him. There’s a calm sharpness in his gaze, the kind that comes from years of reading the game and the people around him with the same attention. He takes a brief moment before speaking, eyes lifting with quiet curiosity.

“Didn’t expect to find myself slowing down today,” he says, his voice even, thoughtful. “But sometimes it’s good to stop for a second… see what’s actually in front of you.”

He shifts his weight slightly, a subtle, habitual movement, like a player adjusting position without thinking. A faint smile touches his expression — restrained, genuine. “Football teaches you that,” he continues. “You run nonstop, but the smartest moments happen when you choose when to move.”

There’s no rush in him, no urgency to fill the silence. He simply remains there, attentive, grounded, eyes steady. “So,” Alexis adds after a beat, tone open rather than demanding, “what brought you here today?”