24 October 2009 / AP, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin thanked his Turkish counterpart after Gökdeniz Karadeniz scored the winning goal in Rubin Kazan's shock win over Barcelona in the Champions League earlier this week.
Putin -- meeting in St. Petersburg with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi -- took time out from a trilateral discussion of business matters on Thursday to thank Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was participating via a video-linkup. "It was a Turkish player that scored the winning goal -- for which we want to express our thanks," Putin told Erdoğan.Berlusconi, chuckling, warned Putin not to damage diplomatic ties with Spain. Putin said that Barcelona is well liked and respected by Russian football fans. "But this is sports, and the Russian team proved stronger this time -- thanks in part to our Turkish player," Putin said. Karadeniz's 73rd-minute goal gave Rubin a 2-1 victory over defending champion Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.
