Of course Natale said all that about himself. He also doesn't believe he was a pawn and front boss. And believed he was the real power and not Merlino.
What is he going to do, sit there and admit he was made a fool of? lol
Regardless, Natale was acting boss, even if it was only in title. Joey Merlino was the true power, behind Natale & The Philly Mob at that time, but I don't see why that should excuse Natale ultimately being behind the murder and just as culpable as Merlino would be, when we have informants who also state Natale ordered the hit. Natale himself alludes to he and Merlino making the final decision together during a meeting between the two in South Philadelphia. Caprio says he received the order from Natale & Merlino, but this being at a meeting with other mobsters. Previte says he overheard and personally was told by Natale that Natale stated Sodano "had to go, send the message".
At the end of it all, regardless of what ones opinion is, it seems that Natale & Merlino had equal participation in the decision to kill Joseph Sodano.
