Putin place – Russian President spends €20 million on luxury Marbella pad

Vladimir Putin: Russian President, ace pilot, sharpshooter, bare-chested showman, spiky thorn in the side of the West and… future neighbour to Rod Stewart.

You read that right. Putin is reportedly spending €20 million on a luxurious palace fit for a President in the heart of the Costa del Sol’s most exclusive resort – La Zagaleta.

The former Mayor of Moscow’s 4,000 sq m villa will be located a mere caber toss from Scottish crooner Rod Stewart’s mansion.

Putin has been a regular face on the Costa del Sol over the past few years, and will be joining other family members who already reside in the region on a permanent basis.

Exact reports are understandably sketchy, but The Daily Mail believes that Putin’s pad will be ‘the epitome of extravagance’, boasting some 10 bedrooms, unspoilt views across to Gibraltar and Morocco, its own helipad, a veritable paradise of sunken pools and even a 10-car garage.

He can certainly afford it. But even a premier as renowned as Putin might not quite make the top table at La Zagaleta get togethers. As one of the most exclusive and private estates in Europe, it is home to some of the world’s wealthiest individuals and most famous faces.

Rumours abound about exactly who lives there, and the fact that nobody really knows for sure simply adds to La Zagaleta’s mystique.

But if the multimillion euro properties are a little bit out of your price range fear not – VIVA has a bulging portfolio of exclusive but rather more affordable properties to choose from.

And the best thing is, your neighbour is unlikely to be a feared global leader.