De Bruyne's agent 'arrested and by police in Belgium after complaint from star'

An investigation has been launched into the agent of Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne, according to reports from Belgium.

Patrick De Koster was arrested on Thursday and spent the night in jail as authorities conduct an investigation reportedly triggered by a complaint from De Bruyne himself.

Newspaper Het Nieuwsblad claims that the probe, spearheaded by investigating judge and 'fraud hunter' Michel Claise, was started in 2019 and centres around a financial dispute.

The matter is said to be related to events which took place between 2013 and 2014, when De Bruyne was at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Koster is believed to have appeared before Claise on Friday, and was informed he will be held for further questioning. He will reportedly stand before the Council Chamber on Wednesday.

Eric Van Duysee, the spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office, has explained that De Koster is suspected of 'money laundering and forgery.' The Central Anti-Corruption Service are conducting the probe.

Het Nieuwsblad also claim researchers have explained that payments involving De Bruyne's contract with Wolfsburg went through Liechtenstein, a notorious tax paradise, and were 'not done by the book'.

De Koster is the manager of J&S International Football Management, a company which represents the likes of De Bruyne, Zinho Cano and Roman Bezoes among others.

He has been De Bruyne's agent since 2004 and brokered the experienced international's most recent contract.

Following De Bruyne's switch from Wolfsburg to City in August 2015, De Koster - along with his former business partner Didier Frenay - banked 10 per cent of the overall £55million fee.