Shay Given is convinced Aston Villa fans are jealous of Manchester City, which led to the booing of Gareth Barry on Monday.
He said: "I am sure there will be a majority of Villa fans who will be thankful as well for the service he gave to the club but the majority at the game were pretty much the opposite."
Given added: "Fans up and down the country are perhaps a bit jealous of Man City in the sense that they have new owners and what they can bring to the club.
"But they should respect Gareth for what he did beforehand."