Turnbull -Rocco was Clemenza's choice,, Neri was Michael's choice. We don't see them exchanging any words during GF and II. I don't believe they could have been close in any way. One of the Mafia's prime rules: Never have friends in the family--you might have to kill them one day.

That's why I think that Neri looked so " troubled " about having to whack Fredo. From the boathouse scene where he is given the order to mama's funeral when Fredo says hi to him, going up to mamas casket - he was there from the start, why is he shown now going up to pay his respects - as I have posted before, he is apologizing, to the final fishing scene.

Neri throughout the g 1 and g 2 is shown as a distanced and cold character except when it comes to Fredo, he has sympathy or a friendship with him.