Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is running a huge country, but apparently also has time to be a huge fan of German professional soccer club Schalke 04. When Putin learned that Schalke was about to transfer standout goalie Manuel Neuer to rival Bayern Munich, for more than $30 million last July, he immediately intervened.

According to an interview with Schalke club president Clemens Tonnies, in the German magazine Sport Bild, Putin, who is closely tied to Schalke's main sponsor, did everything he could to keep Neuer with Schalke.

Russian natural gas company Gazprom is the major sponsor of Schalke we speak of.

Bayern is currently in first place and Schalke is third in the 18-team German Bundesliga.