Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has been cleared of all charges over an alleged robbery and assault after he was acquitted of any involvement by a Belgian court.

The Daily Mail reports the 21-year-old, who joined Villa in the summer in a £7million move from Genk, had been fighting to clear his name since September after allegations he was connected to a violent car-jacking in Liege a year ago, last November.

Two friends of the Belgian international striker were accused of brutally beating a motorist and making off in his Volkswagen Polo car.

He was cleared on Monday after the judge found that Benteke and his co-defendants had no case to answer.