Former Atletico Madrid midfielder Donato has told his old club to GROW UP.

The Brazilian insists Atletico need to get out from the shadow of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He told Marca: "I am going to say something very strong. Afterwards people don't understand it, but I think Atlético de Madrid has to change the mentality of being the third team in Spain. Go out in the League with the mentality of qualifying for the Champions League and finishing third as if this were enough. This mentality, for me, Donato, forgive me if people get upset, but for me, this mentality has to disappear.

"The team has to go out and try to win because if not we will always be saying: 'we didn't win, but we finished third or fourth...' Atlético has that mentality.

"Madrid and Barça are going to win. Madrid, with what it spends, has to go out and win. Atlético has to be there, among the top three, so that when both fail they can win. I am delighted to see Griezmann and that he returns to what he was before, he is a great player.

"They have great players, but they can't think that we beat Madrid and that's it. You have to have more ambition. It was one of the things that happened to me there, I went out because I wanted to win titles. This mentality didn't fit me. I left Atlético to Deportivo, from a big to a small, and I won many titles. I hope that Atlético de Madrid can win titles, not just be in the almost."