Originally posted by Don Cardi:
Neri was a very important piece of Michael's army.
Don Cardi 
Yes! And the proof is:
In the penultimate boathouse scene, when Michael says that he wants Roth's plane met, and Hagen says it's impossible, Michael puts down Tom and says, "Rocco?" He doesn't say, "Al"? Why? Because Michael knows it's a one-way mission--and he's selected Rocco, not Neri, because Rocco's expendible and Neri isn't.
